' 


' 


in 

Association 


1&9& 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


GIFT    OF 

GEN  .  CHAS. K.  GREENLEAF 

Class 


i 


Work  of  the 

Massachusetts  Volunteer 

V 

Aid  Association 


During  the 

War  with  Spain 

\  o/  O 


^     OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 


or 


COMPILED  BY 
EDWARD  C.  MANSFIELD. 


ALFRED     MUDGC    A.     SON, 

PRINTERS, 
24     FRANKLIN     ST..     BOSTON. 


THE  MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEER  AID 
ASSOCIATION. 


IN  time  of  war  there  is  always  a  need  of  some  voluntary  organiza 
tion  of  citizens  to  assist  the  government.  However  carefully  planned 
the  military  provisions  may  be  for  the  care  of  the  sick  and  wounded, 
a  severe  battle  or  an  epidemic  of  disease  makes  such  extraordinary 
demands  that  the  government  cannot  meet  them.  This  has  been 
demonstrated  in  every  modern  war.  Then,  when  the  soldier  is  dis 
charged  from  the  service  for  disability,  a  patriotic  people  will  not  permit 
him  to  be  treated  as  an  incompetent  or  pauper.  To  prevent  this, 
assistance  other  than  that  which  the  usual  charitable  associations  can 
furnish  is  essential.  In  Massachusetts  there  is  never  a  lack  of  patriotic 
spirit  among  her  men  and  women  when  the  government  is  assailed  and 
the  lives  and  rights  of  its  citizens  are  at  hazard.  All  that  is  necessary 
is  to  centralize  and  direct  this  willing  force.  After  the  plans  are 
matured  and  the  lines  of  relief  work  defined,  there  has  never  been 
any  difficulty  in  this  State  in  securing  for  the  government  able  and 
generous  assistance.  But  unless  some  wise  and  general  plan  is  con 
ceived  at  the  beginning  there  is  a  great  waste  of  energy  and  means 
and  a  liability  that  more  harm  than  good  may  be  done. 

No  voluntary  work  of  citizens  can  be  of  much  service  without  the 
hearty  co-operation  of  the  regularly  constituted  military  authorities. 
Among  the  first  things  done  by  the  promoters  of  the  Massachusetts 
Volunteer  Aid  Association  was  to  consult  with  the  military  and  naval 


218855 


4  Massachusetts   Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

authorities,  offering  aid  and  asking  advice  as  to  the  way  in  which  the 
members  could  be  of  the  best  assistance.  In  every  instance  the 
response  from  the  Secretary  of  War  and  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  and 
their  assistants  was  prompt  and  courteous,  the  offers  of  assistance  gladly 
received  and  painstaking  and  valuable  advice  freely  given. 

Having  ascertained  what  was  best  to  do,  the  next  step  was  to  gather 
funds  to  carry  out  the  plans  proposed.  It  was  evident  at  the  outset 
that  a  large  sum  of  money  would  be  needed.  It  was  thought  best,, 
however,  instead  of  asking  contributions  of  large  sums  of  money  from 
a  few  individuals  well  known  to  be  generous  givers,  to  contrive  a  plan 
whereby  every  one  could  help  as  they  were  prompted.  This  plan 
worked  admirably.  The  response  from  people  in  all  walks  of  life, 
native  and  foreign  born,  was  immediate  and  generous.  Moreover,  the 
plan  of  small  contributions  burdened  no  one  and  not  only  enabled  the 
officers  to  make  other  appeals  as  funds  were  needed,  but  afforded  a 
competent  and  available  financial  backing  for  the  Association  even 
if  the  war  had  been  a  long  one.  The  financial  resources  were  not 
exhausted  at  the  beginning. 

When  an  army  is  expanded  four-fold  in  a  few  weeks,  as  was  done  in 
the  Spanish-American  war,  the  supplies  of  food,  clothing,  and  medicine 
are  liable  to  fail,  and  an  important  consideration  is  to  provide  for  the 
manufacture  and  procuring  of  articles,  many  of  which  cannot  be  pur 
chased  in  the  markets.  The  next  step  after  the  procuring  of  funds- 
was  the  organization  of  working  forces  in  every  city  and  town  in  the 
State,  to  provide  such  articles  for  hospital  and  camp  needs  as  had  been 
endorsed  and  recommended  by  heads  of  departments  and  officers  of 
regiments  in  the  field.  This  was  effectively  done  by  using  the  town  or 
city  as  a  unit  and  putting  the  work  of  that  locality  in  charge  of  some 
responsible  person  or  committee,  who  reported  to  the  central  organi- 


Purpose.  5 

zation.  Patterns  and  plans  were  furnished  these  local  societies,  and 
careful  directions  given  where  to  ship  manufactured  articles  when  com 
pleted.  This  gives  another  permanent  source  of  assistance,  and  the 
amount  of  supplies  which  can  be  provided  in  a  very  short  time  by  such 
methods  cannot  be  comprehended  by  any  one  inexperienced  in  such 
work.  Then  capable  and  intelligent  agents  should  visit  the  hospitals 
and  camps  to  see  what  the  needs  of  the  men  are.  Often  ill  and  home 
sick,  men  in  camp  or  hospital  require,  to  keep  up  their  health  and 
spirits,  many  things  that  might  be  considered,  from  a  military  stand 
point,  unnecessary. 

Above  all,  the  public  should  be  acquainted,  through  the  public  press, 
of  the  wants  of  the  soldiers  and  the  progress  of  the  work.  The  news 
papers  of  the  State  are  never  appealed  to  in  vain ;  they  give  generously 
of  their  space  and  influence,  and  the  most  important  factor  in  the 
success  of  this  Association  was  the  patriotic  press. 

The  work  and  history  of  the  Sanitary  Commission,  which  did  such 
effective  work  in  the  Civil  War,  prompted  the  beginning  of  the  Massa 
chusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association,  and  the  advice  of  its  surviving 
workers  was  invaluable.  It  is  in  the  hope  that  the  record  of  this 
Association  may  be  of  similar  service,  should  the  need  require,  that 
the  following  report  is  respectfully  submitted. 


ORGANIZATION. 


IT  was  on  Saturday,  April  30,  1898,  within  ten  days  of  the  first  call 
of  the  President  for  volunteers,  that  Governor  Wolcott  issued  invita 
tions  to  fifty  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Massachusetts  to  be  present  at 
the  Council  Chamber  in  the  State  House  on  Tuesday,  May  3,  for  the 
purpose  of  forming  an  association  which  should  have  for  its  object  the 
care  of  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  and  sailors  in  camp  and  hospital. 
The  invitation  sent  out  by  the  Governor  was  as  follows  :  — 

BOSTON,  April  30,  1898. 

Dear  Sir,  —  It  seems  to  me  to  be  the  duty  of  public-spirited 
citizens  to  form  at  once  a  soldiers'  relief  organization  with  pur 
poses  similar  to  those  of  the  Sanitary  Commission  during  the  Civil 
War.  Such  an  organization  would  take  entire  charge,  in  Massa 
chusetts,  of  volunteer  relief  work  for  the  men  in  service,  and  would 
co-operate  with  all  citizens  of  the  State  in  their  efforts  in  that 
direction.  As  it  is  necessary  that  the  work  should  be  entered 
upon  immediately,  I  have  asked  a  limited  number  of  gentlemen 
to  meet  at  the  Council  Chamber  at  the  State  House,  Tuesday, 
May  3,  at  eleven  o'clock,  to  organize  such  an  association,  and  I 
earnestly  request  your  presence. 

Yours  very  truly, 

(Signed)     ROGER  WOLCOTT. 

In  response  to  the  Governor's  invitation,  the  following  gentlemen 
gathered  in  the  Council  Chamber :  — 

GOVERNOR  ROGER  WOLCOTT. 

HON.  GEORGE  H.  LYMAN,  Collector  of  the  Port  of  Boston. 

COL.  HENRY  L.  HIGGINSON,  of  Lee,  Higginson  &  Co. 


Organization.  7 

EBEN  S.  DRAPER. 

HON.  PATRICK  A.   COLLINS,  former  Consul  General  at  London. 

WILLIAM  H.  BARTLETT,  Commander  of  the  G.  A.  R.  of  Massachusetts. 

COL.  HENRY  A.  THOMAS,  Postmaster  of  Boston. 

HON.  JOHN  L.  BATES,  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 

HON.  GEORGE  E.  SMITH,  President  of  the  Senate. 

THOMAS  F.  RING,  President  St.   Vincent  de  Paul  Society. 

FRANK  H.  BRIGGS,  President  Sons  of  the  Revolution. 

GEN.  FRANCIS  H.  APPLETON,  President  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution. 

DR.  SAMUEL  W.  ABBOTT,  Chairman  State  Board  of  Health. 

CHARLES  E.  ADAMS,  President  State  Board  of  Trade. 

RT.  REV.  WILLIAM  LAWRENCE,  Bishop  of  Massachusetts. 

VERY  REV.  WILLIAM  BRYNE,    V.   G. 

DR.  EDWARD  EVERETT  HALE. 

REV.  GEORGE  A.  GORDON. 

HON.  JOHN  Q.  A.  BRACKETT,  ex- Governor. 

HON.  GEORGE  S.  BOUTWELL,  ex- Governor. 

HON.  ELIHU  B.  HAYES. 

ROBERT  M.  BURNETT. 

ROBERT  TREAT  PAINE. 

REV.  HORACE  F.  BARNES. 

DR.  H.  P.  WALCOTT,  State  Board  of  Health. 

GEN.  EDWARD  SHERWIN,  President  N.  E.  Tel.  and  Tel.  Co. 

WILLIAM  ENDICOTT,  JR. 

COL.  WILLIAM  D.  SOHIER,  Member  of  Governor's  Staff. 

EDWARD  W.  HOOPER,   Treasurer  of  Harvard  College. 

WILLIAM  H.  BALDWIN,  President  Young  Men's  Christian  Union. 

A.   S.  JOHNSON,  President  Young  Men's  Christian  Association. 

REV.  LEWIS  B.  BATES. 

GEN.  CHARLES  J.  PAINE. 

DR.  HERBERT  L.  BURRELL. 

DR.  F.  T.  BEATTY. 

HON.  WINSLOW  WARREN,  President  War  0/1812  Association. 

Letters  were  received  from  the  following  gentlemen  expressing  their 
entire  sympathy  with  the  objects  of  the  meeting  :  — 


8  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

HON.  W.   MURRAY  CRANE,  Lieutenant  Governor. 
HON.   EDWIN  U.   CURTIS,  ex-Mayor  of  Boston. 
HON.  WILLIAM  VV.  CRAPO. 
J.  MONTGOMERY  SEARS. 
EX-GOVERNOR  WILLIAM  CLAFLIN. 
JAMES  PHILLIPS,  Jr. 

Gov.  Wolcott  called  the  meeting  to  order  and  made  a  brief  address, 
referring  to  the  work  accomplished  by  the  Sanitary  Commission  during 
the  Civil  War  as  an  example  of  what  could  be  done  by  such  an  organi 
zation  as  was  proposed. 

Rev.  Horace  F.  Barnes,  associate  pastor  of  Tremont  Temple,  officiated 
as  Secretary  of  the  meeting. 

Gov.  Wolcott  suggested  that  the  meeting  take  steps  towards  form 
ing  a  relief  association,  and  Mr.  Eben  S.  Draper,  of  Hopedale,  offered 
the  following  resolution  which  was  unanimously  adopted  :  — 

We  hereby  associate  ourselves  as  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer 
Aid  Association,  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  the  civil  and  military 
authorities  of  the  nation  and  State  in  furnishing  supplies  and  relief 
to  the  men  of  the  army  and  navy  during  the  war  with  Spain. 

The  Governor  shall  appoint  an  Executive  Committee  of  ten, 
which  shall  have  full  power  to  appoint  all  the  officers  of  this  Asso 
ciation  from  their  own  numbers  or  otherwise ;  it  shall  have  full 
power  to  fill  vacancies  in  its  own  membership,  to  secure  and  pro 
vide  medical  aid  and  hospital  treatment,  and  to  do  all  acts  to 
further  the  objects  of  this  .association. 

It  shall  also  have  the  power  to  add  other  members  to  this  Asso 
ciation  from  time  to  time  ;  to  constitute  and  appoint  all  such  com 
mittees,  of  men  and  women,  as  it  may  from  time  to  time  deem 
expedient,  and  to  determine  their  powers  and  duties.  This  com 
mittee  may  establish  auxiliary  organizations  throughout  the  State, 
shall  superintend  their  work,  and  shall  provide  for  the  proper  dis 
tribution  of  all  supplies  which  may  be  collected. 

It  may  co-operate  with  national  and  State  bodies  organized 
for  similar  purposes.  The  Executive  Committee  may  call  meet 
ings  of  the  Association  at  any  time. 


Organization.  g 

In  accordance  with  the  above  resolution,  Mr.  Draper  moved  the 
appointment  of  an  Executive  Committee  of  ten  by  the  chair,  and 
the  following  gentlemen  were  appointed  :  — 

EBEN  S.  DRAPER,  of  Hopedale. 
HENRV  L.  HIGGINSON,  of  Boston. 
GEORGE  v.  L.  MEYER,  of  Hamilton. 
ARNOLD  A.  RAND,  of  Boston. 
PATRICK  A.  COLLINS,  of  Boston. 
ELIHU  B.  HAYES,  of  Lynn. 
ROBERT  M.  BURNETT,  of  Southboro. 
CHARLES  J.  PAINE,  of  Weston. 
T.  JEFFERSON  COOLIDGE,  Jr.,  of  Boston. 
JAMES  PHILLIPS,  Jr.,  of  Fitchburg. 

Brief  addresses  were  made  by  Dr.  Herbert  L.  Burrell,  Rev.  Horace 
F.  Barnes,  Rev.  L.  B.  Bates,  Mr.  A.  S.  Johnson  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association,  and  others,  after  which  the  meeting  adjourned. 

Directly  after  the  adjournment  of  the  meeting,  the  Executive  Com 
mittee  was  called  together.  Mr.  Eben  S.  Draper  was  chosen  chair 
man,  Maj.  Henry  L.  Higginson,  Treasurer,  and  Hon.  Elihu  B.  Hayes, 
Secretary. 

It  was  voted  to  issue  an  address  to  the  people  of  Massachusetts, 
and  the  following  was  unanimously  adopted  :  — 

To  the  People  of  the  Commonwealth  : 

At  a  meeting  called  by  Gov.  Roger  Wolcott,  and  held  in  the 
Executive  Chamber  on  May  3,  this  organization  was  formed  for 
the  purpose  of  assisting  the  civil  and  military  authorities  and  fur 
nishing  supplies  and  relief  to  the  men  of  the  army  and  navy  during 
the  war  with  Spain.  The  Executive  Committee,  appointed  at  this 
meeting  by  the  Governor,  invite  the  people  of  the  State  to  become 
members  of  this  Association  and  co-operate  in  the  movement. 
All  persons  subscribing  one  dollar  or  more  will  be  enrolled  as 
members.  Subscriptions  to  any  amount  will  be  received  by  the 
Treasurer,  Henry  L.  Higginson,  50  State  Street,  Boston,  and  be 
duly  acknowledged. 


io  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

Offers  of  co-operation  or  services  by  associations  should  be 
addressed  to  the  Secretary,  Elihu  B.  Hayes,  Commonwealth  Build 
ing,  Mt.  Vernon  Street,  Boston. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  the  Association  to  afford  any  individual  in 
the  Commonwealth  an  opportunity  to  render  effective  aid  to  our 
soldiers  and  sailors  in  the  service  of  the  country. 

EBEN  S.  DRAPER,  Chairman, 

HENRY  L.  HIGGINSON,  Treasurer, 

ELIHU  B.  HAYES,  Secretary, 

GEORGE  v.  L.  MEYER, 

PATRICK  A.  COLLINS, 

JAMES  PHILLIPS,  Jr., 

ROBERT  M.  BURNETT, 

ARNOLD  A.  RAND, 

CHARLES  J.  PAINE, 

T.  JEFFERSON  COOLIDGE,  Jr., 

Executive  Committee. 


OFFICE. 


THE  Association  was  assigned  rooms  by  Sergeant-at-Arms  Capt. 
J.  G.  B.  Adams  in  the  Commonwealth  Building,  opposite  the  State 
House,  Boston,  and  on  Monday,  May  9,  the  Secretary,  Hon.  Elihu  B. 
Hayes,  of  Lynn,  formally  opened  them  for  the  use  of  the  organization. 
Mr.  Edward  C.  Mansfield,  of  Boston,  was  chosen  Assistant  Secretary 
and  Miss  Amy  Robinson,  of  Hudson,  was  appointed  stenographer. 

As  soon  as  the  office  had  been  opened  for  work,  a  large  number  of 
offers  of  assistance  were  received.  These  offers  came  from  nurses, 
physicians,  clerical  help,  etc.,  and  as  soon  as  received  they  were 
acknowledged,  and  were  duly  filed.  Lists  of  nurses  and  physicians 
were  prepared,  the  former  being  arranged  so  as  to  show  the  previous 
experience,  age,  residence,  and  other  particulars,  as  far  as  could  be 
obtained,  of  the  individual  volunteer  workers.  His  Excellency  the 
Governor  sent  to  the  Association  many  offers  of  assistance  which  he 
had  received,  and  these  were  also  placed  upon  the  lists. 

The  formation  of  the  Association  and  its  outlined  work  was  at  once 
noted  and  commented  upon  in  the  most  favorable  terms  by  the  news 
papers  throughout  the  State  and  country,  and,  in  order  that  a  complete 
record  from  the  newspaper  standpoint  might  be  kept,  a  series  of  scrap- 
books  was  opened,  and  the  services  of  a  press-clipping  bureau  secured. 
Every  clipping  referring  to  the  work  was  sent  to  the  office,  and  properly 
entered  in  chronological  order.  The  result  is  that  a  series  of  eight 
scrap-books  has  been  compiled,  containing  more  than  two  thousand 
pages  and  between  fifteen  thousand  and  twenty  thousand  clippings. 
Letter-books  and  letter-files  were  made  use  of  from  the  first.  Each 
letter  and  telegram  sent  out  was  properly  copied,  and  every  letter 
received  duly  filed. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  was  held  on  Tuesday, 
May  10,  the  day  after  the  formal  opening  of  the  rooms.  Mr.  Draper 


12  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

presided,  and  there  was  a  full  attendance  of  members.  At  this 
meeting  the  Chairman  and  Secretary  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  select  a  Finance  Committee  of  seven,  a  Committee  on  Distribution 
and  Transportation  of  five,  and  a  Medical  Advisory  Committee  of 
three.  This  committee  was  requested  to  report  at  the  next  meeting 
of  the  Executive  Committee. 

At  this  meeting  also  it  was  voted  to  issue  a  call  inviting  the  women's 
societies  throughout  the  State  to  send  representatives  to  a  meeting  to 
be  held  in  the  Council  Chamber  at  the  State  House,  on  Thursday, 
May  19,  in  order  to  consult  as  to  the  best  method  of  organizing  a 
Women's  Committee  to  work  with  the  Association. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  held  in  the  following 
week,  on  May  17,  the  appointment  of  the  following  sub-committees 
was  unanimously  confirmed  by  the  Executive  Committee  :  — 

Finance  Committee,  —  Eben  S.  Draper,  of  Hopedale ;  Nathaniel 
Thayer,  of  Lancaster;  J.  Malcolm  Forbes,  of  Milton;  J.  Montgomery 
Sears,  of  Boston ;  Dudley  L.  Pickman,  of  Beverly ;  Isaac  T.  Burr,  of 
Boston,  and  Henry  Parkman,  of  Boston. 

Transportation  Committee,  —  Henry  B.  Chapin,  of  the  Boston  & 
Albany  Railroad ;  Lucius  Tuttle,  president  of  the  Boston  &  Maine 
Railroad;  Henry  M.  Whitney,  Collin  M.  Ingersoll,  of  the  New  York, 
New  Haven  &  Hartford  Railroad,  and  Arthur  M.  Graham,  Boston  agent 
of  the  Merchants  &  Miners  Transportation  Company. 

Medical  Advisory  Committee,  —  Dr.  Henry  P.  Walcott,  of  the  State 
Board  of  Health ;  Dr.  Herbert  L.  Burrell,  Dr.  Samuel  A.  Green,  and 
Dr.  Edward  H.  Bradford. 

The  Executive  Committee  increased  its  membership  by  adding  Hon. 
Sherman  Hoar,  who  was  elected  a  member  on  June  7,  Mr.  Henry  E. 
Warner  and  Mr.  W.  Cameron  Forbes  on  August  24,  and  Dr.  Edward 
H.  Bradford  on  August  31. 

The  officers  and  committees  gave  a  great  deal  of  time  and  thought 
to  the  work  which  the  Association  would  be  called  upon  to  perform. 
Men  and  women  who  had  been  prominent  in  the  work  of  the  Sanitary 
Commission  during  the  Civil  War  were  consulted,  and  many  valuable 
suggestions  were  obtained  from  this  source. 

As  long  as  the  troops  were  located  in  camps  in  this  country  there 


Office.  13 

were  no  unusual  conditions  in  the  matter  of  forwarding  supplies  to 
them  to  be  foreseen ;  but  the  probability  that  the  troops  would  be  sent 
to  Cuba  and  possibly  to  other  islands  in  the  West  Indies,  which  could 
be  reached  only  by  water  transportation,  presented  new  and  difficult 
problems.  From  the  very  beginning,  therefore,  the  question  of  the 
desirability  of  a  hospital  and  supply  ship  was  uppermost  in  the  minds 
of  members  of  the  Committee.  The  great  obstacle  to  be  overcome  in 
this  connection  was  the  matter  of  expense,  as  no  one  could  then  foresee 
accurately  the  generous  response  which  would  be  made  by  the  people 
of  Massachusetts  to  the  request  for  funds.  The  Secretary  consulted 
Surgeon-General  Van  Reypen  of  the  United  States  Navy  in  regard  to 
the  cost  of  fitting  out  the  hospital  ship  "  Solace,"  with  a  view  to  ascer 
taining  the  probable  cost  of  a  hospital  ship,  should  the  Committee 
decide  to  fit  one  out.  Surgeon-General  Van  Reypen  designated  Sur 
geon  C.  A.  Siegfried,  United  States  Navy,  stationed  at  Newport,  as  one 
who  was  able  to  give  full  information  upon  this  subject,  and  detailed 
Dr.  Siegfried  to  go  to  Boston  and  give  to  the  Committee  all  the  infor 
mation  possible  in  regard  to  the  outfitting  of  a  hospital  ship.  Dr. 
Siegfried,  in  consultation  with  several  members  of  the  Committee, 
pronounced  the  idea  of  a  hospital  ship  not  only  feasible,  but  of  the 
utmost  importance,  if  the  Association  desired  to  do  the  most  effective 
work  in  the  war  between  Spain  and  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Robert  M.  Burnett,  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee, 
was  therefore  requested  to  ascertain  if  a  suitable  ship  could  be  obtained 
at  a  price  which  would  be  reasonable.  After  examining  many  ships  he 
was  informed  that  the  steamship  "Marmion,"  belonging  to  the  Boston 
Fruit  Company,  and  soon  to  arrive  at  Baltimore,  could  be  bought  for  a 
very  low  price.  Dr.  Siegfried  and  Mr.  Burnett  went  to  Baltimore, 
examined  the  "  Marmion,"  and  she  was  pronounced  by  both  of  them  to 
be  the  most  suitable  ship  for  the  purpose  of  all  those  which  they  had 
examined.  The  ship  was  accordingly  bought  on  May  31,  and  sent  to 
Boston  to  be  fitted  out. 

In  the  meantime,  and  soon  after  the  opening  of  the  rooms,  requests 
for  supplies  began  to  come  to  the  Association  from  the  surgeons  and 
hospitals  of  the  various  Massachusetts  regiments  which  had  entered 
the  service  of  the  United  States.  The  equipment  of  these  regiments 


14  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

by  the  State,  previous  to  their  mustering  in  to  the  service  of  the  United 
States,  had  been  very  thorough  and  complete.  But  in  actual  camp  life 
the  surgeons  found  a  great  variety  of  things  necessary  which  they  did 
not  have  at  hand,  and  which  they  asked  the  Association  to  supply. 
These  appeals  were  responded  to  invariably  with  promptness  and  will 
ingness. 

As  soon  as  the  troops  began  to  move  South  into  the  camps  at 
Chickamauga,  Falls  Church,  Tampa,  and  Huntsville,  the  anxiety  of 
the  people  at  home  in  regard  to  the  welfare  of  the  soldiers  became 
manifest,  and  from  this  time  on,  until  the  hospitals  at  Montauk  were 
abolished,  the  office  was  a  centre  for  information.  All  through  the 
summer  months,  when  many  of  the  Massachusetts  men  were  lying  sick 
in  hospitals  in  this  country,  as  well  as  in  Cuba  and  Porto  Rico,  the 
anxious  relatives  of  the  men  came  to  the  Association  to  obtain  infor 
mation  in  regard  to  their  condition.  Pathetic  scenes  were  of  almost 
daily  occurrence  when  information  was  imparted  to  relatives  of  the 
sickness  or  death  of  their  loved  ones. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  the  surgeons  in  charge  of  the  many  hospitals 
in  which  the  sick  Massachusetts  men  were  lying,  as  well  as  through  the 
devotion  shown  by  the  agents  of  the  Association  in  different  locations 
throughout  the  country,  the  inquir  ies  made  by  its  officers  were  given 
prompt  attention  and  every  necessary  detail  of  information  furnished. 

The  number  of  inquiries  for  sick  soldiers  often  involved  as  many  as 
fifty  individual  cases  in  a  single  day.  To  each  inquirer  courteous 
attention  was  paid,  the  circumstances  concerning  the  illness  of  the 
soldier  were  ascertained,  and  assurances  given  that  every  effort  would 
be  made  to  furnish  the  information  so  anxiously  sought. 

The  value  of  organized  effort  in  procuring  information  was  never 
more  clearly  apparent  than  in  this  work.  When  the  requests  of 
individuals  were  often  laid  aside  by  the  army  officials  because  of  the 
physical  impossibility  of  answering  each  inquirer,  the  requests  of  the 
Association  for  information  were  given  prompt  attention  and  its 
influence  acknowledged  and  recognized  in  the  most  generous  and 
courteous  manner.  Through  its  agents,  also,  the  Association  had  an 
exclusive  and  valuable  method  of  securing  information,  and  the  fact 
that  these  representatives  of  the  central  organization  were  located  in 


Office.  15 

the  most  important  centres  for  information,  such  as  New  York  City, 
Santiago,  Porto  Rico,  Montauk,  Fort  Monroe,  etc.,  made  it  possible  to 
gain  information  and  details  which  it  was  oftentimes  impossible  for 
individuals  to  obtain. 

No  expense  was  spared  in  this  connection.  The  telegraph  was  freely 
used,  and  a  registry  of  inquiries  was  opened  in  which  was  kept  the  name 
of  the  man  for  whom  inquiries  were  made,  with  his  company,  regiment, 
its  present  location,  if  possible,  and  also  the  name  and  residence  of  the 
person  making  inquiry.  A  record  was  also  kept  of  the  Massachusetts 
men  located  in  hospitals.  The  newspapers  published  lists  of  them  at 
frequent  intervals,  and  these  clippings  were  used  as  the  basis  for  these 
records.  The  soldier's  name,  company,  regiment,  and  name  of  the 
hospital,  together  with  the  disease  and  general  condition  when  known, 
were  entered  and  kept  for  reference.  Several  hundred  cases  were  thus 
kept  on  file,  and  this  work  was  of  great  assistance  in  locating  the  sick 
men  widely  separatee!  throughout  the  country.  This  branch  of  the 
work  was  of  the  greatest  importance,  and  probably  appealed  more 
strongly  to  the  inquiring  friends  and  relatives  of  the  soldiers  than  any 
other  work  which  the  Association  was  able  to  perform. 

Toward  the  latter  part  of  July,  when  the  men  who  had  been  engaged 
in  the  campaign  in  Cuba  first  began  to  arrive  home,  the  Association 
commenced  its  work  of  assisting  the  returned  soldiers.  The  first 
wounded  men  to  come  North  to  New  England  came  from  the  hospital 
at  Fortress  Monroe,  where  they  had  been  landed  by  the  transport  which 
brought  them  from  Cuba.  These  men  were  landed  at  Providence 
Aug.  4,  and  were  there  met  by  a  representative  who  procured  them  a 
breakfast  and  then  furnished  them  transportation  to  their  homes. 
Every  detail  of  returning  soldiers  sent  to  Boston  was  met  upon  their 
arrival  by  representatives  of  the  Association,  and  every  care  and  atten 
tion  was  given  them.  The  returning  men  were  in  many  cases  in 
absolute  want.  This  was  especially  the  case  with  men  who  had  no 
relatives  or  friends  in  Boston.  They  naturally  came  to  the  office  for 
assistance.  In  some  instances  the  appeals  came  from  soldiers  who 
were  actually  suffering  from  hunger.  Other  men  came  in  the  chill 
autumn  weather  clothed  only  in  canvas  uniforms  without  underclothes, 
in  the  most  helpless  condition.  Still  others  came  suffering  from  malaria. 


1 6  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

These  men  desired  to  secure  a  temporary  home  until  their  recovered 
strength  would  enable  them  to  return  to  their  regiments,  or,  if  discharged 
from  the  service,  to  work  at  their  usual  business.  The  Soldiers'  Home 
in  Chelsea,  and  the  hospital  at  Long  Island,  received  .a  number  of  these 
latter  cases  and  cared  for  them  until  they  were  able  to  care  for  them 
selves  again.  In  some  cases  aid  was  given  to  men  convalescent  from 
typhoid  and  malaria  who  were  not  properly  hospital  cases,  but  who 
needed  temporary  help  to  provide  the  proper  kind  of  food  and 
medicine  with  which  to  build  up  their  systems  and  make  recovery 
sure. 

Transportation  was  given  to  scores  of  soldiers  who  did  not  possess 
the  necessary  funds  to  carry  them  to  their  desired  destination.  Soldiers 
who  had  been  mustered  out  of  the  United  States  service  came  to  Bos 
ton,  sometimes  to  obtain  work,  sometimes  to  seek  friends;  being 
unsuccessful,  they  often  found  themselves  absolutely  without  money  or 
resources,  and  they  made  application  for  transportation  either  to  their 
homes  or  to  some  other  city  where  they  had  friends  or  a  prospect  of 
work.  No  deserving  case  was  refused  assistance,  and  the  help  thus 
rendered  them  has  been  gratefully  appreciated. 

There  was  kept  at  the  office  a  supply  of  underclothing,  stock 
ings,  and  similar  articles  of  wearing  apparel  with  which  to  meet  the 
needs  of  the  soldiers  who  called  at  the  rooms  for  assistance,  and  this 
supply  was  the  means  of  making  comfortable  many  men  who  were  thor 
oughly  deserving  and  practically  destitute  of  warm  clothing.  Through 
the  courtesy  of  Adjt.-Gen.  Dalton,  overcoats  and  parts  of  uniforms  were 
sent  to  the  office,  upon  request,  to  be  given  to  soldiers  actually  in  need 
of  the  same.  This  clothing,  furnished  by  the  State,  was  of  great  assis 
tance,  and  the  promptness  and  readiness  with  which  the  State  authori 
ties  co-operated  in  this  branch  of  the  work  has  been  the  means  of 
rendering  prompt  aid  in  many  deserving  cases. 

The  Association  was  called  upon  to  send  home  the  bodies  of  several 
deceased  soldiers  belonging  in  Western  States  who  had  died  in  Boston 
hospitals. 

A  feature  of  the  work  which  deserves  special  mention  has  been  the 
furnishing  of  large  and  commodious  tents  for  the  Massachusetts  regi 
ments,  in  which  the  men  could  gather  and  find  means  of  amusement 


Office.  17 

and  recreation  in  camp  life.  The  Army  Christian  Commission  of  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  inaugurated  this  work  among  the 
volunteers,  and  its  efforts  met  with  unqualified  success.  One  of  the 
greatest  dangers  of  camp  life  is  the  absence  of  facilities  for  engaging 
the  men's  attention  when  their  military  duties  are  not  claiming  them. 
At  such  times  the  men  become  listless  and  homesick,  and  while  in  this 
condition  they  are  often  led  into  questionable  habits.  The  Army 
Christian  Commission  in  the  camps  sought  in  every  way  to  meet 
these  conditions,  and  to  provide  a  healthy  moral  atmosphere  in  which 
the  soldier  might  be  elevated  and  restrained  from  vicious  habits  by 
occupying  his  leisure  time  profitably  and  healthfully. 

The  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association  provided  tents  for  the 
Second,  Fifth,  Sixth  and  Eighth  regiments,  and  the  Army  Christian  Com 
mission  sent  agents  to  care  for  the  tents  and  to  manage  the  work  to  be 
carried  on  therein.  Writing  materials  were  freely  furnished  to  whoever 
desired  them,  an  organ  was  placed  in  each  tent,  and  games  and  litera 
ture  were  at  the  disposal  of  all  soldiers  who  came.  Entertainments  and 
impromptu  concerts  were  of  frequent  occurrence,  and  the  tedious  round 
of  camp  life  pleasantly  relieved. 

Among  the  first  supplies  received  from  the  generous  people  of 
Massachusetts  were  vast  quantities  of  reading  matter,  including  illus 
trated  papers,  magazines,  and  periodicals.  It  came  packed  in  barrels, 
in  boxes,  and  in  small  parcels,  from  societies,  churches,  and  individuals. 
Tens  of  thousands  of  periodicals  were  thus  received,  assorted,  and  then 
repacked  into  cases  of  average  proportions.  The  magazines  were 
naturally  in  a  rough  state,  and  in  order  that  they  might  present  a  more 
attractive  appearance  they  were  sent  to  a  bindery  and  trimmed.  This 
work  was  done  gratuitously  by  Alfred  Mudge  &  Son,  of  Boston,  and 
greatly  improved  the  appearance  of  the  magazines. 

The  literature  thus  received  and  repacked  was  forwarded  to  the 
soldiers  in  the  camps,  and  a  great  many  cases  were  taken  to  Cuba  and 
Porto  Rico  by  the  hospital  ship  "  Bay  State."  The  value  of  it  to  the 
soldiers  was  inestimable.  It  enabled  them  to  occupy  their  leisure 
moments  profitably,  and  was  thereby  a  source  of  entertainment,  in 
struction,  and  a  relief  for  the  prevailing  malady  of  homesickness. 

The  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association  was  the  first  of  such 


1 8  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

organizations  to  be  formed  in  any  of  the  States,  and  it  was  owing  to 
the  promptness  with  which  Massachusetts  acted  that  other  States  called 
for  information  concerning  its  purposes,  its  work,  and  its  plans.  Some 
few  weeks  after  the  Association  had  been  at  work,  a  communication  was 
received  from  citizens  of  New  Hampshire,  asking  for  information  con 
cerning  the  organization,  and  later  a  committee  called  upon  Secretary 
Hayes,  and  was  given  full  details  of  its  organization  and  the  scope  of 
its  work.  This  information  was  of  much  value  to  the  New  Hampshire 
Soldiers'  Aid  Society,  and  assisted  them  materially  in  the  organization 
of  that  society,  of  which  Gov.  Ramsdell  was  the  President.  Inquiries 
of  a  similar  nature  were  received  from  a  society  at  Portland,  Me.,  from 
a  society  in  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  and  also  from  societies  in  other  states. 
Full  details  of  the  work  were  furnished  in  each  instance  and  all  possible 
assistance  given. 

From  the  very  beginning  of  the  work  for  the  soldiers  and  sailors  the 
newspapers  of  Boston  and  throughout  the  Commonwealth  gave  freely 
of  their  space  for  the  advancement  of  the  cause.  Editorially  and  in 
the  news  columns  they  endorsed  the  work,  and  were  unstinted  in  the 
help  which  they  rendered.  The  papers  published  day  by  day  the  lists 
of  contributions  received  by  the  Treasurer,  and  the  editorial  columns 
teemed  with  appeals  for  funds.  In  Boston  several  of  the  newspapers 
detailed  special  correspondents  to  note  the  daily  occurrences  at  the 
rooms  of  the  Association.  In  consequence  of  this  the  papers  contained 
a  continuous  and  interesting  account  of  thg  work,  and  included  scores 
of  stories  concerning  the  details  which  otherwise  would  never  have  been 
known  to  the  public.  Thus  the  details  of  the  equipment  of  the  hospi 
tal  ship  "  Bay  State,"  of  the  supplying  of  the  needs  of  the  soldiers  in 
southern  camps,  and  of  the  multiple  other  interests,  were  kept  con 
tinually  before  the  public  attention,  and  the  people  at  large  were 
thereby  satisfied  as  they  could  have  been  in  no  other  way  that  their 
generous  gifts  were  being  worthily  used. 

To  the  generous  co-operation  of  the  newspapers  of  Massachusetts  is 
due  in  the  greatest  degree  the  success  which  has  attended  the  efforts 
of  the  Association  to  relieve  the  suffering  of  Massachusetts  soldiers,  for 
without  their  powerful  co-operation  the  people  could  not  have  appre 
ciated  the  need  and  extent  of  the  work,  nor  would  it  have  been  possi- 


Office.  19 

ble  to  have  collected  such  a  magnificent  fund  as  was  given  by  the 
people.  There  were  many  generous  contributors  to  this  work,  but 
none  so  unselfish  and  effective  as  the  press  of  the  Commonwealth. 

On  Thursday,  April  20,  1899,  tne  fina^  meeting  of  the  Executive 
Committee  was  held.  At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  that  the  records 
of  the  organization  be  placed  in  the  custody  of  the  State  Library  for 
reference  in  future  years.  A  Board  of  Trustees,  consisting  of  Henry 
L.  Higginson,  Robert  M.  Burnett,  and  Eben  S.  Draper,  was  appointed 
to  have  charge  of  the  money  remaining  in  the  Treasury,  and  the 
committee  adjourned  without  day. 


Hon.  Sherman  Hoar  became  actively  connected  with  the  Associa 
tion  on  June  7,  on  which  day  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Execu 
tive  Committee.  He  was  at  once  asked  to  attend  to  the  legal  matters 
connected  with  the  transfer  of  the  hospital  ship  to  the  Association. 
He  successfully  accomplished  this  undertaking,  as  well  as  the  arrange 
ment  with  the  government  by  which  the  ship  was  permitted  to  fly  the 
Red  Cross  flag.  He  personally  attended  to  the  shipment  of  supplies 
by  the  "St.  Louis"  to  Santiago,  and  on  July  19,  accompanied  by  Dr. 
George  E.  Titcomb  of  Concord,  he  left  Boston  to  visit  many  of  the 
hospitals  in  the  South. 

He  looked  up  the  Massachusetts  men  confined  in  these  hospi 
tals,  secured  furloughs  for  such  of  them  as  were  able  to  travel,  gave 
them  transportation  and  ration  money  with  funds  supplied  by  the 
Association,  and  sent  them  home  to  Massachusetts.  As  a  result  of 
this  trip,  Mr.  Hoar  secured  the  issuing  of  orders  by  the  War  Depart 
ment  providing  that  sick  soldiers  on  furlough  should  be  given  trans 
portation  and  rations  as  well  as  sleeping  car  accommodations  to  their 
homes  at  the  expense  of  the  government. 

In  many  cases,  he  left  money  with  the  surgeons  in  charge  of  the 
hospitals,  in  order  that  they  might  buy  such  additional  food  and  deli 
cacies  for  the  sick  soldiers  as  the  government  did  not  furnish.  On 
Aug.  4  Mr.  Hoar  made  another  trip  to  the  hospitals  in  the  South,  this 
time  being  accompanied  by  Dr.  D.  F.  Jones  of  Boston.  On  his  way 


2O  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

home,  he  visited  Montauk  Point  and  on  account  of  what  he  saw  there 
earnestly  recommended  the  establishment  of  diet  kitchens  for  the 
relief  of  the  sick  soldiers  in  that  camp.  Mr.  Hoar  became  greatly 
exhausted  on  account  of  his  tireless  exertions,  together  with  the  heat 
and  loss  of  sleep  incident  to  the  long  railroad  journeys  he  was  obliged 
to  take.  Soon  after  the  first  of  September  he  was  obliged  to  give  up 
his  work  on  account  of  illness  ;  typhoid  fever  developed,  and,  although 
he  made  a  gallant  struggle  for  life,  he  finally  passed  away  on  Friday, 
Oct.  7.  His  untimely  death,  coming  as  it  did  so  quickly  after  the 
splendid  work  which  he  had  performed  in  behalf  of  the  sick  soldiers, 
left  a  lasting  impression  of  regret  upon  all  who  had  followed  his  labors 
in.  connection  with  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Association  as  well  as 
the  public  generally. 

The  funeral  occurred  at  Concord,  Mass.,  on  Monday,  Oct.  10.  On 
Tuesday,  Oct.  18,  the  Executive  Committee  of  Massachusetts  Volun 
teer  Aid  Association  unanimously  adopted  the  following  tribute  to  the 
memory  of  Mr.  Hoar  :  — 

"  With  the  deepest  sense  of  personal  loss,  the  Massachusetts 
Volunteer  Aid  Association  sadly  place  upon  their  records  an 
affectionate  remembrance  of  the  noble  life  of  their  associate, 
Sherman  Hoar. 

"  They  gratefully  appreciate  the  immense  value  of  his  work  and 
the  unselfish  devotion  and  force  of  character  displayed  in  all  that 
he  undertook.  He  served  his  country  in  a  time  of  peril  with  a 
zeal  and  ability  born  of  the  highest  impulses  that  can  influence 
a  patriotic  man. 

"  To  his  countrymen  he  leaves  a  grand  example,  illustrated  by  a 
character  of  rare  integrity  and  singular  beauty.  Sincere  and 
earnest,  without  affectation ;  manly  and  strong,  yet  tender  in  his 
sympathy  for  others ;  vigorous  and  impulsive,  but  with  well  bal 
anced  judgment ;  honest,  high-minded,  and  true  —  he  was  of  the 
best  type  of  American  citizenship. 

"To  the  soldiers  of  the  war  he  gave  his  life  with  unswerving 
devotion ;  for  their  comfort  and  welfare  he  labored  unremittingly, 
cheerfully  obeying  the  call  of  duty  and  forsaking  all  to  earn  the 
reward  of  an  approving  conscience. 


Office.  21 

"  Their  gratitude  will  keep  his  memory  ever  fresh,  and  his  career 
will  be  to  them  an  embodiment  of  the  highest  ideal  of  civic  duty 
and  Christian  virtue." 

The  women's  committee  of  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Asso 
ciation  also  adopted  a  testimonial  to  Mr.  Hoar,  which  read  as 
follows  :  — 

"  RESOLVED,  That  while  in  the  death  of  Sherman  Hoar  this'com- 
munity  has  met  with  an  irreparable  loss,  we  find  this  no  time  for 
mourning,  for  in  the  presence  of  such  a  memory  a  true  spirit  of 
loyalty  to  him  should  lead  us  to  meet  our  loss  bravely,  cheerfully, 
and  without  thinking  of  ourselves. 

"  That  he  was  a  splendid  example  of  a  patriotism  that  knew  no 
limits  and  a  heroism  that  counted  not  the  cost. 

"  That  we  regard  it  as  a  privilege  and  an  inspiration  to  have 
witnessed  his  work  and  shared  his  counsels  in  this  Association. 

"That  his  courtesy,  under  the  pressure  of  anxiety  and  hurry, 
has  never  failed,  while  his  suggestions  have  made  difficulties  clear 
and  burdens  light. 

"  That  with  abilities  that  easily  commanded  any  position  and 
any  success,  he  gave  them  all  with  chivalrous  devotion  to  succor 
the  weak  and  suffering. 

"  That  while  we  offer  our  deepest  sympathy  to  his  wife  and 
family  we  rejoice  that  his  radiant  memory  will  remain  a  light  in 
the  darkness,  an  inspiration  to  all  who  knew  him,  a  priceless 
inheritance  to  his  children,  and  an  honor  to  our  Commonwealth 
of  Massachusetts." 


FINANCES. 


THE  magnificent  response  which  the  people  of  Massachusetts  made 
to  the  appeals  for  funds  to  inaugurate  and  carry  forward  the  work  of  the 
Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association  was  a  splendid  example  of 
the  patriotism  and  generosity  of  a  State  famed  for  its  great  benefi 
cence  and  its  support  of  every  movement  for  the  relief  of  suffering 
humanity.  With  the  declaration  of  war  and  the  call  of  the  President 
for  troops,  came  a  realizing  sense  of  the  privations  and  suffering,  the 
sickness  and  death,  among  the  soldiers  of  the  State,  which  is  the  inevit 
able  outcome  of  warfare. 

'  The  organization  of  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association,  on 
May  3,  was  the  first  act  on  the  part  of  the  State  towards  relieving  the 
suffering  and  distress  among  her  soldiers.  At  the  meeting  of  the 
Executive  Committee  on  that  day  an  appeal  was  made  for  funds,  and 
the  response  was  at  once  large  and  encouraging. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  on  Tuesday,  May  10,  the 
Chairman,  Mr.  Eben  S.  Draper,  and  the  Secretary,  Mr.  Elihu  B.  Hayes, 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  select  a  Finance  Committee,  and  report 
at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Committee.  On  May  17,  therefore,  the 
following  gentlemen  were  reported  as  a  Finance  Committee,  and  their 
selection  was  unanimously  confirmed  by  the  Executive  Committee  :  — 

EBEN  S.  DRAPER.  J.  MONTGOMERY  SEARS. 

NATHANIEL  THAYER.  DUDLEY  L.  PICKMAN. 

J.  MALCOLM  FORBES.  I.  T.  BURR. 

HENRY  PARKMAN. 

The  Finance  Committee  met  at  once,  and  organized  with  the  choice 
of  Mr.  Draper  as  Chairman.  It  was  voted  to  issue  an  appeal  for  funds, 
and  the  following  request  for  subscriptions  to  carry  on  the  work  was 
unanimously  adopted  :  — 


3.     AFT    HURRICANE    DECK    FOR    CONVALESCENT    PATIENTS, 
LOOKING    FORWARD. 

HOSPITAL    SHIP    "  BAY    STATE." 


Finances.  23 

To  the  People  of  Massachusetts  : 

It  is  the  record  of  this  Commonwealth  that  in  every  war  in 
which  the  nation  has  engaged,  Massachusetts  has  cared  for  her 
sick  and  wounded  soldiers  and  sailors.  The  friends  at  home  of 
the  men  in  the  field  in  this  war  desire  to  continue  and,  if  possible, 
improve  upon  the  relief  work  carried  so  successfully  forward  in 
the  War  of  the  Rebellion  under  the  Sanitary  Commission. 

To  this  end  Gov.  Wolcott  caused  the  formation  of  the  Massa 
chusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association  soon  after  the  declaration  of 
war  with  Spain.  The  Executive  Committee  thereof  have  since 
been  devising  ways  and  means  to  organize  and  carry  forward 
relief  work  to  aid  the  soldiers  and  sailors  from  Massachusetts  who 
are  now  serving  in  the  army  and  navy  of  the  United  States. 

After  consulting  the  military  and  medical  authorities,  National 
and  State,  the  Committee  has  decided  that  the  most  efficient  and 
practical  help  can  be  afforded  by  providing  a  steamship  that  shall 
serve  as  a  floating  hospital,  supply  ship,  and  transport  for  the  sick 
and  wounded.  This  vessel  will  be  equipped  with  cold  storage  to 
carry  fresh  food,  well  stored  with  medical  supplies,  and  will  have 
on  board  experienced  surgeons  and  trained  nurses  ready  for  any 
emergency  of  battle  or  disease.  It  will  also  serve  as  a  transport  to 
bring  back  sick  or  wounded  soldiers,  either  from  Cuban  battle 
fields  or  Southern  camps,  to  hospitals  or  places  of  refuge  nearer 
their  homes  in  the  invigorating  climate  of  Massachusetts. 

Such  a  ship  has  been  secured.  Her  name  will  be  the  "  Bay 
State,"  and  she  is  admirably  adapted  for  the  work  of  a  relief  ship. 
She  will  sail  under  the  Red  Cross  flag,  and,  thus  protected  from 
hostile  interference,  she  will  carry  substantial  comforts  and  the 
good  will  of  our  people  to  the  sick  men  at  the  front. 

To  fit  out,  man,  and  run  this  ship  is  the  special  work  of  the 
Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association,  and  to  accomplish  this 
good  purpose  we  cordially  invite  the  earnest  co-operation  of  all  the 
patriotic  men  and  women  of  Massachusetts. 

To  change  and  adapt  the  ship  for  this  special  work  and  properly 
equip  her  will  cost  probably  thirty-five  thousand  dollars.  To 
supply  and  pay  her  running  expenses  will  probably  require  five 


2 4  Massachusetts    Volunteer   Aid  Association. 

thousand  dollars  a  month,  and  it  is  necessary  to  prepare  at  the 
outset  for  at  least  a  year's  service,  for,  whatever  the  events  of  the 
war  may  be,  we  shall  certainly  have  for  that  period  sick  and  dis 
abled  soldiers  to  care  for.  Therefore,  a  hundred  thousand  dollars 
will  be  required. 

The  first  appeal  of  the  Committee  is  for  money,  and  it  respect 
fully  asks  each  person  to  give  what  he  or  she  can  afford  for  this 
definite  purpose.  There  will  also  be  needed  many  supplies  of 
clothing  which  can  be  made  by  the  women  of  the  Commonwealth, 
patterns  and  samples  of  which  will  be  furnished  to  clubs  and 
societies  for  this  purpose. 

The  ship  is  now  at  the  Atlantic  Works,  being  fitted  for  the 
service  she  is  to  render,  and  the  work  of  preparation  will  be 
vigorously  pushed. 

Make  your  donations  generous,  and  send  promptly  to  Col. 
Henry  L.  Higginson,  Treasurer  of  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer 
Aid  Association,  50  State  Street,  Boston,  Mass. 

EBEN  S.  DRAPER, 
NATHANIEL  THAYER, 
J.  MALCOLM  FORBES, 
J.  MONTGOMERY  SEARS, 
DUDLEY  L.  PICKMAN, 
I.  T.  BURR, 
HENRY  PARKMAN, 

Finance  Committee. 

This  appeal  was  also  mailed  to  every  clergyman  in  the  State  with  a 
letter  requesting  that  it  be  read  from  the  pulpit.  This  request  was 
quite  generally  acceded  to,  and,  in  many  instances,  marked  the  begin 
ning  of  the  work  in  those  localities. 

An  engraved  certificate  was  prepared  for  the  acknowledgment  of  sub 
scriptions  to  the  funds,  and  these  certificates  were  sent  to  every  person 
contributing  one  dollar  or  more.  This  plan  proved  most  successful.  The 
certificate  was  handsomely  engraved,  and  serves  as  a  memento  of  the 
Association's  existence  as  well  as  the  fact  that  the  holder  was  a  member 
of  it  through  his  or  her  contribution.  The  certificate  read  as  follows  :  — 


Finances.  2  5 


j  of  I 


This  is  to  certify  that  is  a  member  of  the 

MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEER  AID  ASSOCIATION, 

and  has  volunteered  to  assist  the  civil  and  military  authorities  of 
the  Commonwealth  in  furnishing  supplies  and  relief  to  the  men 
of  the  Army  and  Navy  during  war  with  Spain. 
Amount  received,  $ 

EBEN  S.  DRAPER,  Chairman. 
H.  L.  HIGGINSON,   Treasurer.        ELIHU  B.   HAYES,  Secretary. 


On  June  25,  the  Treasurer  sent  out  an  appeal  for  money  through  the 
press,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy  :  — 

BOSTON,  June  25,  1898. 

The  State  of  Massachusetts  has  to-day  paid  for  the  steamship  to 
be  used  by  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association  as  a 
hospital  ship  for  the  relief  of  sick  and  wounded  soldiers.  The 
ship  is  not  fitted  up  for  its  work,  and  yet  it  should  be  in  service 
to-day.  The  Committee  of  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid 
Association  is  asking  for  money.  The  Committee  has  received 
$12,000,  and  needs  in  order  to  prepare  this  ship  for  service 
$60,000.  It  needs  also  at  least  $6,000  per  month  to  run  the 
ship.  Two  leading  physicians  of  this  city  will  go  in  command  of 
the  medical  department  of  the  ship,  and  will  be  aided  by  excellent 
young  surgeons.  They  will  also  be  aided  by  efficient  and  trained 
nurses,  and  will  do  all  in  their  power  to  save  life  and  health.  I  ask 
the  citizens  of  Massachusetts  to  give  freely  and  at  once  of  their 
money.  The  Committee  should  have  $50,000  more  before  con 
tracting  for  the  preparation  of  the  ship,  and  it  will  not  sign  con 
tracts  which  it  cannot  keep.  I  also  again  remind  the  citizens  of 


26  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

Massachusetts  that  this  ship,  once  in  commission,  is   to  be  sup 
ported.     Everybody  can  do  something,  and  many  people  can  do 
much.     I  ask  this  for  the  good  of  our  fellow-countrymen,  and  in 
the  name  of  our  common  humanity. 
Yours  truly, 

HENRY  L.  HIGGINSON,   Treasurer. 

Again,  on  June  28,  Mr.  Higginson  appealed  through  the  daily  press 
for  money  for  the  outfitting  of  the  hospital  ship,  in  order  that  the  work 
of  preparation  might  go  on  rapidly.  This  appeal  was  addressed  to  the 
editors  of  the  papers  and  read  as  follows  :  — 

To  the  Editor: 

May  I  bring  to  your  attention  the  following  matter :  The  State 
of  Massachusetts  has  bought  and  paid  for  a  hospital  ship,  and 
has  got  a  charter  for  her  as  a  hospital  ship  from  the  United  States, 
giving  her  every  possible  right  and  protection.  The  Common 
wealth  expects  its  citizens  to  fit  out  and  run  this  ship,  which 
will  take  charge  of  the  sick  and  wounded  men  in  the  army. 

To  fit  out  this  ship  contracts  amounting  to  $60,000  must  be 
made,  and  yet  the  committee  cannot  contract  for  them  until  it  has 
the  cash  in  hand.  It  is  not  a  question  of  approval  of  the  war, 
but  of  humanity  which  is  before  us.  Any  one  may  have  a  son  or 
a  brother  in  this  army,  and  every  one  has  a  neighbor. 

I  strongly  urge  the  need  of  immediate  and  liberal  help  from  the 
readers  of  your  paper.  The  committee  is  doing  its  best  to  carry 
out  the  plans  for  the  welfare  of  our  citizens,  and  only  remind  you 
of  the  old  proverb,  more  true  than  ever  in  tnis  case,  that  "  He 
who  gives  quickly  gives  twice." 

HENRY  L.  HIGGINSON,  Treasurer. 
BOSTON,  June  28,  1898. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  on  June  27,  it  was 
agreed  that  the  raising  of  money  throughout  the  State  would  be  made 
a  much  easier  matter  if  the  Association  had  as  local  treasurers  in 
different  large  centres  men  of  prominence  in  the  community,  to  whom 
the  contributions  from  that  particular  locality  might  be  paid.  Mr. 


Finances.  '  27 

Higginson  and  Mr.  Meyer  of  the  Executive  Committee  were  there 
fore  appointed  a  committee  to  select  such  representatives  to  act  as 
local  Treasurers.  The  list  was  made  up  with  much  care,  and  the 
following  letter  was  sent  to  each  gentleman  selected  :  — 

Dear  Sir,  —  The  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association  has 
made  a  call  for  subscriptions.  Already  $20,000  has  been  received. 
It  is  necessary,  however,  to  raise  at  least  $40,000  more,  in  order 
thoroughly  to  equip  the  steamship  u  Bay  State,"  which  is  to  be 
sent,  under  the  Red  Cross,  to  Key  West  and  Cuba,  to  take  hospital 
supplies  and  bring  back  the  wounded  and  sick  on  the  return  trip. 
Saving  of  time  now  in  equipping  the  ship  means  saving  of  many 
lives  later  on. 

You  have  been  appointed  local  treasurer.  In  order  to  assist  the 
cause,  please  have  a  call  published  in  all  your  local  papers,  asking 
to  have  donations  sent  to  you  or  to  my  address,  50  State  Street, 
Boston.  Yours  truly, 

HENRY  L    HIGGINSON,  Treasurer. 

The  list  of  local  Treasurers  was  as  follows  :  — 

Worcester,  —  A.  C.  BULLOCK,  President  State  Mutual  Life  Assurance 
Company. 

Springfield,  —  H.  S.  LEE,  Treasurer  Springfield  Institution  for 
Savings. 

New  Bedford,  —  W.  W.  CRAPO,  President  New  Bedford  Institution 
for  Savings. 

Fall  River,  —  JOHN  S.  BRAYTON,  B.  M.  C.  Durfee  Trust  Company. 

Pittsfield,  —  JOSEPH  TUCKER,  President  Berkshire  County  Savings 
Bank. 

North  Adams,  —  S.  W.  BRAYTON,  President  Adams  National  Bank. 

Lawrence,  —  J.  SHATTUCK,  President  Essex  Savings  Bank. 

Lowell,  —  C.  J.  GLIDDEN,  President  Traders'  National  Bank. 

Haverhill,  —  DUDLEY  PORTER,  President  Merrimac  National  Bank. 

Greenfield,  —  W.  H.  ALLEN,  Treasurer  Franklin  Institution  for 
Savings. 

Taunton,  —  GEORGE  A.  WASHBURN,  President  Taunton  National  Bank. 


28  Massaclmsetls    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

Northampton,  —  OSCAR  EDWARD,  President  Northampton  National 
Bank. 

FitMurq,  —  CHARLES  E.  WARE,  President  Fitchburg  National 
Bank. 

To  emphasize  the  need  of  more  money  to  hasten  the  outfitting  of 
the  ship,  the  Treasurer,  Mr.  Higginson,  wrote  a  letter  to  the  editors  of 
the  Boston  papers,  on  June  30,  as  follows  :  — 

To  the  Editor : 

This  morning  comes  a  letter  from  a  Boston  surgeon,  who  is  at 
Fort  McPherson,  Ga.  I  quote  his  words  :  — 

"  Sixty  patients  came  up  last  evening  from  Tampa,  and  it  will 
not  be  long  before  we  have  four  hundred  or  five  hundred  cases. 
At  present  there  are  only  about  two  hundred.  Running  a  govern 
ment  hospital  is  a  very  different  matter  from  one  like  the  John 
Hopkins  Hospital,  where  there  is  everything  one  needs,  and  plenty 
of  assistance,  while  here  supplies  of  all  sorts  run  short,  and  one 
has  to  be  satisfied  with  a  little." 

This  only  emphasizes  the  need  of  quickness  in  preparing  our 
hospital  ship.  There  will  be  no  delay  in  such  preparation  except 
for  lack  of  money.  I  again  ask  for  liberal  supplies  of  cash  this 
week.  The  preparation  of  the  ship  alone  will  cost  $60,000.  I 
recognize  that  our  citizens  expect  the  Committee  to  furnish  this 
ship  at  a  very  early  date,  and  the  Committee  cannot  move  without 

money. 

HENRY  L.  HIGGINSON, 

Treasurer  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association. 
BOSTON,  June  30,  1898. 

In  response  to  these  urgent  appeals  for  funds,  the  people  of  Massa 
chusetts  came  forward  with  a  will.  So  rapidly  did  the  money  come  in, 
that  during  the  month  of  July  the  clerical  force  at  the  Treasurer's 
office  was  increased  in  order  to  take  care  of  the  sums  received,  and 
enter  them  upon  the  Treasurer's  books.  The  money  came  from  people 
in  every  walk  in  life,  and  in  sums  great  and  small.  Societies,  churches, 
and  private  individuals  contributed  to  swell  the  total.  The  Daughters 


Finances.  29 

of  the  Revolution,  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  and 
the  Woman's  Relief  Corps  worked  to  raise  the  money  so  much  needed. 
The  branches  of  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association  in  the 
many  towns  and  cities  throughout  the  State  raised  money  in  a  hundred 
different  ways.  Lawn  parties,  dances,  hurdy-gurdy  parties,  concerts, 
military  tableaux,  private  theatricals,  sweet-pea  shows,  living  picture 
exhibitions,  and  scores  of  other  enterprises  were  undertaken  for  the  pur 
pose  of  raising  funds.  At  Worcester  a  base-ball  game  was  arranged,  the 
participants  being  the  leading  professional  and  business  men  of  the 
city.  A  great  crowd  attended  the  game,  and  a  large  sum  was  realized. 
At  Salem  a  base-ball  game,  between  the  police  and  the  firemen,  was  the 
means  of  securing  a  considerable  sum.  At  the  Chamber  of  Commerce 
in  Boston,  on  July  29,  was  sold  a  bale  of  cotton  at  auction.  The  bale 
bore  this  inscription  :  "  First  bale  of  cotton  from  the  South,  1898 
crop,  presented  by  H.  &  B.  Beer,  of  New  Orleans,  to  President 
McKinley."  This  bale  had  been  sent  to  New  York,  by  order  of  the 
President,  and  had  been  sold  at  auction  for  the  benefit  of  the  Red 
Cross  Association.  From  New  York  it  was  sent  to  Boston  to  be  resold, 
and  was  finally  knocked  down  to  Mr.  John  Shepard  for  the  splendid 
sum  of  $525,  which  amount  was  turned  over  to  the  Massachusetts 
Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

On  Monday,  Sept.  12,  a  benefit  performance  was  given  by  the  mem 
bers  of  the  "  Way  Down  East"  Company,  then  playing  at  the  Tremont 
Theatre,  through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  John  Schoeffel,  the  proprietor  of 
the  house,  and  the  members  of  the  company,  and  a  liberal  sum  was 
realized.  Ministers  addressed  their  congregations  upon  the  care  of 
our  sick  soldiers,  and  pleaded  for  money  with  which  to  carry  on  the 
work.  Many  special  collections  were  taken  up  in  churches  and  the 
money  sent  in  to  the  Treasurer. 

The  local  Treasurers  were  very  active  in  the  collection  of  funds,  and 
thousands  of  dollars  passed  through  their  hands  and  were  entered  upon 
the  books  of  the  Treasurer. 0  Individual  contributors  by  the  hundreds 
either  sent  in  their  contributions  by  mail  or  called  at  the  Treasurer's 
office  on  State  Street,  or  at  the  rooms  on  Mt.  Vernon  Street  to  leave 
their  money  in  person.  The  willingness  and  the  generosity  of  all 
classes  of  the  people  were  unsurpassed.  The  cause  appealed  to  every 


30  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

one  and  a  common  expression  which  was  repeated  incessantly  was, 
"  I  have  brought  you  a  small  contribution ;  I  only  wish  I  could  give 
more." 

Little  children  gave  of  their  small  savings  ;  money  which  they  had 
been  hoarding  for  the  purpose  of  celebrating  the  Fourth  of  July  was 
gladly  sent  to  aid  in  caring  for  the  sick  soldiers.  A  longshoreman 
brought  to  the  Treasurer's  office  a  large  roll  of  one  dollar  bills  which 
had  been  contributed  by  his  fellow-workmen  along  the  docks  out  of 
their  wages.  Members  of  the  police  and  fire  departments  of  the  city 
of  Boston  sent  in  substantial  sums  to  be  added  to  the  rest.  It  would 
be  impossible  to  chronicle  one  half  of  the  touching  evidences  of  the 
patriotism  and  sympathy  with  the  soldiers  at  the  front  which  were 
shown  by  those  who  contributed  money.  The  rich  gave  of  their  plenty, 
while  those  less  favored  with  worldly  goods  gave  according  to  their 
means.  All  were  actuated  by  the  same  spirit  of  generous  liberality, 
and  it  was  through  their  patriotism  and  help  that  the  Association  was 
enabled  to  accomplish  the  great  good  which  has  resulted  from  its 
efforts. 

The  lists  of  the. contributors,  together  with  the  amounts  contributed, 
were  printed  day  by  day  in  the  daily  papers.  Every  effort  was  made 
to  keep  the  acknowledgments  up  to  date  with  the  receipts,  but  this  was 
found  to  be  an  utterly  impossible  thing  to  do.  So  great  was  the 
response  to  the  appeals  for  funds  that  at  one  time  during  the  month 
of  July  the  clerical  force  employed  to  take  charge  of  the  contributions 
found  itself  unable  to  keep  pace  with  the  flood  of  incoming  subscrip 
tions,  and  heroic  measures  were  taken  to  enter  the  accumulated  mass 
of  contributions,  make  out  and  mail  the  certificates  acknowledging  the 
receipt  of  the  same,  and  prepare  the  lists  for  the  press.  Naturally 
the  acknowledgments  were  somewhat  delayed  during  this  period,  but 
eventually  the  difficulty  was  cleared  away  as  the  subscriptions  fell  off  in 
number,  and  each  and  every  one  was  thereafter  acknowledged  promptly. 

Towards  the  middle  of  the  month  of  August  the  work  at  Montauk 
developed,  and  the  need  of  a  large  sum  of  money  to  carry  it  on 
became  evident.  It  was  not  known  how  long  the  need  might  be  pro 
longed,  or  what  sum  would  be  necessary,  and  it  was  decided  to  appeal 
to  the  public  for  money  for  this  special  object.  The  Treasurer  there- 


Finances.  3 1 

fore  issued  a  general  letter  which  was  printed  in  the  newspapers,  and 
obtained  wide  circulation.     The  letter  follows  :  — 

BOSTON,  Aug.  23,  1898. 

We,  of  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association,  promised 
the  other  day  that  when  we  needed  more  money  we  would  ask  for 
it.  We  now  need  a  considerable  sum. 

We  have  spent  much  more  than  we  expected  in  preparing  the 
hospital  ship  "Bay  State"  for  actual  service.  She  is  now  in  the 
West  Indies,  where  she  will  get  sick  men  and  bring  them  North 
and  perform  this  work  for  many  weeks  still.  We  do  not  as  yet 
know  the  cost  of  running  her,  but  it  will  be  a  considerable  sum, 
and  meanwhile  she  is  in  fine  condition  and  busy. 

We  have  now  a  fresh  duty  on  hand.  So  soon  as  the  camp  at 
Montauk  was  established  we  prepared  to  send  a  diet  kitchen,  with 
cooks  and  fresh  provisions,  under  the  care  of  Dr.  Prescott,  in 
order  to  relieve  the  sick  and  wounded  men  in  the  hospitals,  and 
in  order  to  feed  the  convalescents  and  half-sick  men  who  are 
coming  from  Cuba.  We  knew  that  prompt  action  would  save  a 
great  deal  of  suffering  and  a  great  many  valuable  lives,  and  we  are 
doing  the*  best  in  our  power. 

We  have  established  a  boat  service  from  New  London  to  the 
wharf  near  Montauk  Point.  We  have  sent  six  cooks  and  a  num 
ber  of  physicians  and  sixteen  nurses  to  that  camp,  together  with 
carloads  of  provisions,  and  we  have  prepared  ourselves  to  feed  the 
sick  and  wounded  from  any  State,  and  also  those  of  the  regular 
troops.  We  obtained  our  permit  from  Secretary  Alger  to  establish 
a  diet  kitchen  on  the  condition  that  we  should  treat  all  sick  men 
alike,  —  the  volunteers  and  the  regulars. 

In  the  zeal  of  the  people  to  succor  men  of  their  own  State,  the 
United  States  regular  troops,  who  have  necessarily  borne  the  brunt 
of  the  hard  work  and  who  have  done  fine  service,  are  neglected. 
They  •  are  the  real  soldiers,  well  trained,  well  commanded  by 
accomplished  officers,  and  are  our  mainstay.  They  come  from 
all  the  States  and  deserve  the  admiration  and  kind  treatment  of 
all  citizens.  I,  for  one,  wish  to  use  our  provisions  at  Montauk  for 


32  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

them  as  well  as  for  the -Massachusetts  men,  and  ask  givers  to 
approve  of  this  wish,  if  they  will.  A  friend  has  given  us  a  boat 
for  twenty  days,  which  runs  regularly  from  New  London  to  Mon- 
tauk  Point. 

All  this  is  costing  money,  and  will  cost  a  great  deal  more,  but 
what  is  the  cost  in  comparison  with  the  sacrifices  already  made  of 
the  suffering  and  lives  which  we  may  save  ?  We  therefore  appeal 
for  generous  gifts  once  again  in  order  to  accomplish  this  special 
work  at  Montauk. 

The  war  is  over,  but  the  damage  caused  by  the  war  is  not 
repaired.  We  appeal  urgently,  because  now  is  the  time  of  all 
times  when  we  need  to  make  our  very  best  efforts  to  heal  the  sick 
and  to  save  many  more  men  from  being  sick. 

HENRY  L.  HIGGINSON,  Treasurer. 

The  response  to  this  appeal  was  most  generous.  Within  a  few  days 
the  fund  amounted  to  over  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  in  all  the  amount 
subscribed  for  the  work  at  Montauk  Point  exceeded  thirty-five  thousand 
dollars. 


TREASURER'S    STATEMENT. 


Receipts. 

Subscriptions,  General  Fund,  $178,639  53 
Montauk  Fund,      35,431   91 


Interest  on  deposits  ~ 

Received  from  the  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts  as  a  loan  to  purchase 
the  hospital  ship,  "  Bay  State" 
Received  from  the  United  States  Govern 
ment,  from  sale  of  the  hospital  ship, 
"  Bay  State  " 

Total  receipts   .... 


$214,071   44 
1,050  60 


50,000  oo 


100,000  oo 


$365,122  04 


Expenditures. 

Bay  State:  Paid   to    Boston    Fruit    Com 
pany  for  the  steamship  "  Marmion"      $50,000  oo 

Cost  of  rebuilding  and  refitting  hos 
pital  ship  116,419  06 

Cost  of  outfitting,  supplying  and  oper 
ating  the  hospital  ship,  including 
medical  and  food  supplies,  coal, 
wages,  etc 28,071  20 

Paid  to  the  Commonwealth  of  Massa 
chusetts,  to  return  the  purchase 
price  of  the  hospital  ship  .  .  50,000  oo 


34 


Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 


Agents  :  Money  disbursed  by  officers  and 
agents,  for  travelling  expenses,  aid, 
transportation  for  sick  soldiers,  let 
ters  of  credit,  etc.  .  .  .  $i3>577  75 

Montauk:  Cost  'of  organizing,  maintain 
ing  and  operating  diet  kitchens, 
transportation  of  supplies  by  boat 
and  rail,  teaming,  labor,  etc.  10,132  36 

Office :  Expenses  at  office  at  Mt.  Vernon 
Street  (in  part),  and  at  Treasurer's 
office,  including  clerical  assistance, 
aid,  transportation,  supplies,  tele 
grams,  etc 8,815  75 

Store-house:  including  rent,  labor,  express, 

and  freight,  etc.  .  .  2,449  75 

Supplies  purchased ':  including  cost  of  sup 
plies  sent  to  hospitals,  camps,  etc.  .  14*856  49 

Transportation :  including  cost  of  trans 
porting  sick  soldiers,  special  cars, 
etc.  ...  .  1,835  09 

Woman's  Relief  Committee  :  for  aid  to  sick 

soldiers  .  3,59!  47 

Cash  on  hand  May  15,  1899  . 


$299,748  92 
65.373   12 


$365,122  04 


Finances.  35 

Receipts  and  Expenses  at  Office,  \\  Mt  Vernon  Street. 

Receipts. 
Amount  received  from  Treasurer  and  Agents  .         .        $9,118  1 8 


Expenses. 

Clerical  assistance    .....  $2,300  52 

Stationery,  postage,  printing,  and  mailing,  639  59 

Aid  rendered  sick  soldiers        .         .         .  569  50 

Transportation  of  sick  soldiers           .          .  672  06 

Express  and  freight          .         .         .         .  276  28 

Cable  and  telegraph         .         .         .         .  516  13 

Supplies  purchased          .         .         .         .  961  79 

Agents  supplied  with  funds      .         .         .  1,089  31 
Expenses  at  store-house,  paid  through  this 

office   ......  2,093  oo 

$9,118  18 


Receipts  and  Expenses  at  Store-house. 

Receipts. 
Amount  received  from  Treasurer  and  from  office,  1 1  Mt. 

Vernon  Street $2,781  32 


Expenses. 

Salaries  and  labor $1,251  42 

Teaming,  express,  and  freight           .         .  678  01 

Hardware  and  miscellaneous  expenses      .  178   14 

Rent      ......          .  450  oo 

Packing  cases          .....  168  87 

Telephone       ...                   .  54  88 

$2,781  32 


SUPPLIES. 


VAST  quantities  of  supplies  were  sent  by  the  Association  to  the 
soldiers  in  camps,  hospitals,  and  at  the  front  in  Cuba  and  Porto  Rico, 
during  the  months  from  June  to  December,  and  carried  to  every 
Massachusetts  soldier,  who  could  be  reached  by  them,  the  realizing 
sense  of  the  care  which  his  State  was  exercising  over  him.  Tens  of 
thousands  of  articles  of  clothing  and  tons  of  food  and  medical  supplies 
were  shipped  from  the  storehouse  to  alleviate  the  distress  and  sickness 
among  the  soldiers  of  the  Commonwealth,  as  well  as  those  of  other 
States,  and  the  regular  army. 

The  furnishing  of  supplies  to  the  volunteers  from  Massachusetts 
began  the  latter  part  of  May.  The  First  Massachusetts  Regiment 
Heavy  Artillery  had  been  sent  to  garrison  the  fortifications  along  the 
coast  of  Massachusetts,  and  the  different  batteries  soon  began  to  feel 
the  need  of  medical  supplies,  which,  as  the  regiment  had  been  mus 
tered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  would  have  to  be  obtained 
through  requisition  upon  the  medical  department  at  Washington,  if 
not  otherwise  furnished.  The  Association  was  asked  to  supply  the 
few  articles  needed,  and  did  so  gladly  and  promptly.  A  large  number 
of  stoves,  which  were  greatly  needed  during  the  frequent  storms  and 
chilly  nights  to  warm  the  tents  of  the  men,  were  sent  to  the  camps 
of  this  regiment.  Large  oil  heaters  were  supplied  to  several  of  the 
hospitals  to  make  the  interior  of  the  hospital  tents  more  comfortable. 

The  Second  Regiment  was  in  camp  at  Lakeland,  Fla.,  during  the 
latter  part  of  May,  and  the  Association  supplied  the  regimental  hospital 
with  a  quantity  of  articles  of  necessity  of  which  it  stood  in  need. 
Reading  matter  was  sent  to  the  camps  of  the  First  Regiment  along 
the  coast,  and  also  to  the  men  in  camp  at  Framingham  and  at  Camp 
Alger.  Requisitions  for  supplies  for  the  hospitals  came  from  the  Sixth 
Regiment,  in  camp  at  Falls  Church,  Va.,  in  June,  and  these  requisitions 


Supplies.  37 

were  at  once  honored,  and  the  goods  shipped.  Canned  soups,  alcohol, 
hot-water  bags,  ice  bags,  towels,  condensed  milk,  sponges,  wooden 
pails,  soap,  malted  milk,  sheets,  pillow  cases,  Jamaica  ginger,  abdominal 
bands,  old  linen,  lime  water,  made  up  a  partial  list  of  the  supplies  sent 
to  the  Massachusetts  troops  during  the  month  of  June. 

Many  of  the  articles  asked  for  were  upon  the  lists  of  supplies  fur 
nished  by  the  Government,  but  as  each  thing  needed  had  to  be  obtained 
upon  requisition  on  the  Quartermaster's  Department  at  Washington, 
it  would  have  required  a  long  time  to  secure  these  necessary  supplies, 
owing  to  the  tremendous  amount  of  work  with  which  the  War  Depart 
ment  was  burdened  at  that  time  in  the  preparation  of  the  army  for 
active  service.  Naturally  and  promptly  the  gap  thus  caused  was  rilled, 
and  the  surgeons  and  commanding  officers  were  asked  to  send  for 
whatever  they  needed. 

The  Women's  Committee  of  the  Association,  appointed  by  the 
Executive  Committee,  met  for  organization  on  June  7.  A  sub-com 
mittee  on  supplies  was  at  once  appointed,  consisting  of  over  thirty 
ladies,  of  which  Miss  Mary  Morison  was  chosen  Chairman,  and  Miss 
Alice  S.  Clement,  Secretary.  From  this  time  on,  the  Supply  Com 
mittee  of  the  Women's  Committee  took  full  charge  of  the  gathering  of 
supplies  of  hospital  clothing,  etc.,  among  the  auxiliary  associations  and 
societies  throughout  the  State.  As  the  sickness  increased  among  our 
soldiers,  the  need  of  additional  supplies  became  imperative,  and  the 
list  of  articles  asked  for  by  the  Supply  Committee  increased  in  propor 
tion.  This  list  included  abdominal  bands,  pajamas,  hospital  shirts, 
surgical  shirts,  sheets,  pillow-cases,  face  cloths,  mosquito  canopies, 
comfort  bags,  stockings,  shoes,  handkerchiefs,  hammocks,  towels,  and 
many  other  articles  of  lesser  importance. 

During  the  month  of  June  the  preliminary  work  of  planning,  making 
patterns,  and  sewing  went  on  among  the  scores  of  societies  which  had 
engaged  in  the  work,  as  well  as  among  hundreds  of  individual  workers 
who  did  not  belong  to  any  of  the  branch  associations.  The  latter  part 
of  June  saw  the  beginning  of  the  flow  of  completed  articles  which 
set  in  towards  the  rooms  on  Mt.  Vernon  Street.  The  supplies  came 
in  cases,  barrels,  and  parcels  of  every  description.  The  bulk  of  them 
came  by  express,  but  scores  of  the  smaller  bundles  were  brought  in 


38  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

person  by  the  enthusiastic  and  energetic  workers  themselves.  The 
need  of  larger  accommodations  and  a  system  in  handling  the  great  and 
increasing  amount  of  supplies  became  apparent,  and,  on  July  9,  the 
storehouse  on  India  Street  was  secured  and  opened  for  their  reception. 
After  this  date  all  supplies  were  sent  to  this  storehouse,  and  cared  for 
under  the  excellent  system  adopted. 

The  first  large  shipment  was  that  made  by  the  United  States  ship 
"  St.  Louis,"  which  had  been  sent  to  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  with  a  num 
ber  of  Spanish  prisoners  of  war.  Permission  was  obtained  from  the 
Navy  Department  to  forward  a  quantity  of  supplies  on  the  ship,  and 
the  opportunity  of  thus  reaching  directly  the  Massachusetts  regiments 
then  in  Cuba,  —  the  Second  and  Ninth,  —  was  quickly  grasped.  Hon. 
Sherman  Hoar  took  charge  of  the  details  of  the  shipment.  Special 
transportation  was  secured  through  the  co-operation  of  the  officials  of 
the  Boston  &  Maine  Railroad  Company,  and  on  Friday,  July  8,  two 
car-loads  of  clothing  and  food  as  well  as  medical  supplies  were  sent  to 
Portsmouth  to  be  placed  on  board  the  "St.  Louis."  This  shipment 
consisted  of  forty-six  cases  of  clothing  supplies,  and  over  eight  tons  of 
canned  foods  and  delicacies  for  the  sick  and  wounded.  Expert  packers 
were  furnished  by  Messrs.  Hough  ton  &  Button,  and  Col.  William  D. 
Sohier,  a  member  of  the  Governor's  staff,  Mr.  Robert  M.  Burnett  of 
the  Executive  Committee,  together  with  ladies  of  the  Women's  Supply 
Committee,  all  worked  most  energetically  to  assist  in  the  preparation 
and  forwarding  of  the  supplies.  To  the  Second  Regiment  were  sent 
1,500  abdominal  bands,  140  mosquito  nettings,  100  hammocks,  165 
surgical  shirts,  25  hospital  shirts,  400  towels,  two  barrels  of  old  linen; 
comfort  bags,  malted  milk,  lemonade  and  lime  juice  tablets,  and  a  large 
amount  of  acid  fruits,  besides  one  third  of  the  amount  of  canned  foods 
included  in  the  entire  shipment.  To  the  Ninth  Regiment  a  like  ship 
ment  was  made,  and  a  third  part  was  intended  for  the  Sixth  Regiment 
which  it  was  expected  was  to  go  to  Santiago  in  the  immediate  future. 

These  supplies  were  intended  to  supplement  those  already  sent  to 
these  regiments  while  they  were  still  in  Florida.  Of  the  canned  fruits 
which  were  sent,  one  half  was  sent  to  the  sailors  of  the  war  vessels,  then 
doing  duty  in  front  of  Santiago  and  along  the  coast  of  Cuba,  the  rest 
being  intended  for  division  among  the  Massachusetts  regiments.  One 


Supplies.  39 

important  item  in  this  shipment  consisted  of  three  thousand  corn-cob 
pipes  and  about  one  thousand  pounds  of  tobacco,  which  were  to  be 
divided  among  the  regiments. 

The  "  St.  Louis  "  sailed  from  Portsmouth  for  New  York,  where  she 
stopped  on  her  way  to  Santiago,  and  while  there  the  Association  sent 
to  her  by  express  an  additional  consignment  of  clothing,  pipes  and 
tobacco,  and  limes  for  the  marines  at  Guantanamo,  who  had  made  such 
a  gallant  fight  against  superior  numbers,  and  who  were  reported  as 
being  destitute  for  want  of  these  supplies. 

The  second  large  shipment  went  on  July  16  by  the  United  States 
ship  "  Harvard,"  which  vessel  had  also  come  to  Portsmouth,  N.  H., 
with  Spanish  prisoners.  This  shipment  comprised  forty-seven  cases  of 
food  and  clothing  supplies,  and  was  sent  to  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  in 
charge  of  Mr.  Sumner  Clement,  of  Newton,  who  superintended  the 
transfer  of  the  goods  from  the  train  to  the  lighter  and  thence  to  the 
"Harvard." 

The  thanks  of  the  Association  have  been  tendered  to  the  Piscata- 
quis  Transportation  Company  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  through  its  Presi 
dent,  Henry  A.  Yeatton,  for  the  service  rendered  by  it  in  the  transpor 
tation  of  the  supplies  sent  by  the  "St.  Louis"  and  the  "Harvard" 
from  the  wharf  to  the  ships.  A  tug  and  lighter  were  placed  at  the 
disposal  of  the  representatives  of  the  Association,  and  the  generosity 
and  kindness  of  the  officers  of  the  company  assisted  them  materially 
in  the  discharge  of  their  duties. 

To  Admiral  C.  C.  Carpenter,  to  Capt.  Goodrich  and  the  officers  of 
the  "  St.  Louis,"  and  to  the  officers  of  the  "  Harvard "  have  been 
extended  the  cordial  thanks  of  the  Association  for  the  many  courtesies 
which  were  extended  by  them  to  its  representatives. 

Previous  to  the  sailing  of  the  "  Bay  State  "  two  other  large  shipments 
of  supplies  were  made  by  sea,  —  one  on  July  26  by  the  Boston  Fruit  Com 
pany's  Steamship  "Alfred  Dumois,"  and  the  other  on  Aug.  n  by  the 
''Barnstable,"  a  steamship  owned  by  the  same  company.  Transporta 
tion  of  these  supplies  was  furnished  free  by  the  Boston  Fruit  Company 
to  Jamaica,  from  which  port  it  became  necessary  to  find  a  means  of 
transporting  the  goods  across  to  Cuba.  This  was  readily  done  by 
means  of  sailing  vessels  usually  employed  in  the  coastwise  fruit  trade, 


4O  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

and  at  small  expense.  Thus,  through  the  kindness  of  the  officials  of 
the  Boston  Fruit  Company,  the  Association  was  enabled  to  forward 
several  tons  of  supplies  direct  to  Santiago  at  a  time  when  they  were 
most  needed,  and  when  they  were  made  use  of  in  the  best  possible 
manner  by  Dr.  Brackett,  the  agent  at  Santiago. 

In  the  first  shipment,  by  the  "  Alfred  Dumois,"  there  were  included 
fifty-three  cases  and  seven  barrels  of  supplies,  and  on  the  "Barnstable  " 
were  sent  ninety-nine  cases.  The  "  Dumois"  shipment  comprised 
thirty-three  cases  of  clothing  supplies  and  twenty  cases  and  seven 
barrels  of  foods  and  delicacies.  The  "  Barnstable "  shipment  of 
ninety-nine  cases  was  divided  into  twenty  cases  of  clothing  supplies 
and  seventy-nine  cases  of  canned  foods,  fruits,  tobacco,  pipes,  etc. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  the  shipments  at  Jamaica  sailing  packets  were 
secured,  and  the  goods  were  transferred  and  forwarded  to  Santiago. 
Dr.  Brackett  and  Mr.  Austin,  who  went  in  charge  of  the  "Dumois" 
and  the  "Barnstable"  shipments,  respectively,  attended  to  this  part 
of  the  work,  and  superintended  the  safe  delivery  of  the  supplies  at 
Santiago. 

At  the  urgent  request  of  Gen.  Leonard  A.  Wood,  then  in  command 
of  Santiago  province,  Dr.  Brackett  remained  at  Santiago  for  several 
weeks  and  assisted  in  taking  care  of  the  many  sick  soldiers  in  the 
hospitals.  He  established  a  hospital  and  by  means  of  the  supplies 
sent  from  Massachusetts,  was  enabled  to  do  a  great  deal  of  good.  As 
agent  at  Santiago,  Dr.  Brackett  was  frequently  called  upon  by  cable  to 
ascertain  the  condition  of  men  reported  sick  belonging  to  Massa 
chusetts  troops  and  rendered  invaluable  assistance. 

Mr.  George  v.  L.  Meyer  of  the  Executive  Committee  attended 
to  the  shipment  of  the  supplies  by  the  "  Dumois,"  a  work  which 
demanded  several  days  of  constant  labor. 

In  order  that  the  supplies  sent  to  Cuba  might  be  allowed  free 
entrance  at  the  port  of  Santiago  the  Secretary  wrote  to  the  Secre 
tary  of  the  Treasury  asking  that  the  supplies  might  enter  free.  This 
request  was  referred  to  the  War  Department  and  the  following  letter 
of  permission  was  received  :  — 


Supplies.  41 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
WASHINGTON,  Aug.  17,  1898. 

Dear  Sir,  —  The  Department  is  in  receipt  by  reference  of  your 
letter  addressed  to  the  Honorable  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury, 
under  date  of  the  nth  instant,  asking,  in  behalf  of  the  Massa 
chusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association,  the  free  entry  to  the  island  of 
Cuba  of  a  quantity  of  Red  Cross  supplies  shipped  by  the  said 
Association  for  free  distribution  among  the  camps  and  hospitals 
on  that  island. 

In  accordance  with  the  wishes  of  your  Association,  the  Com 
manding  General,  Department  of  Santiago,  has  been  requested 
to  admit  free  of  duty  the  supplies  in  question,  as  shown  by  the 
invoice  which  accompanied  your  request  —  the  articles  to  be  used 
entirely  for  gratuitous  distribution. 

Very  respectfully, 

G.  D.  MEIKLEJOHN, 

Assistant  Secretary  of  War. 

ELIHU  B.  HAYES,  Esq., 

Massachusetts  Voluntee r  Aid  A ssocia tion , 

Commonwealth.  Building,  Boston,  Mass. 

The  Association  was  given  most  efficient  and  courteous  co-operation 
by  the  officials  of  the  navy  and  army  during  the  war.  Not  only  did 
the  Secretary  of  War  and  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  assist  in  every 
way  possible  by  letters  of  authority,  but  in  the  forwarding  of  its  supplies 
every  facility  was  given  for  their  safe  delivery.  The  Association  was 
very  materially  .aided  in  the  shipment  of  supplies  by  the  following 
authorization  received  from  the  War  Department  regarding  the  trans 
portation  of  shipments  to  hospitals  :  — 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 
Mr.  ELIHU  B.  HAYES,  WASHINGTON,  July  19,  1898. 

Sec'y,  Volunteer  Aid  Association,  Boston,  Mass. 
Sir,  —  In  answer  to  your  telegram  addressed  to  lion.   Henry 
Cabot  Lodge,  under  date  of  June  n,  last,  referred  to  this  depart 
ment,  on  the  subject  of  transportation  of  medical  stores  furnished 
by  the  Volunteer  Aid  Association,  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you 


42  Massachusetts    Voluntter  Aid  Association. 

that  the  Assistant  Secretary  of  War  decides  that  packages  of 
donations  addressed  to  the  surgeons  commanding  any  of  the 
general  hospitals,  and  the  chief  surgeons  of  any  army  corps  in 
the  United  States,  will  be  transported  at  Government  expense  by 
the  quartermaster  to  whom  they  are  delivered. 
Very  respectfully, 

H.  O.  A.  HERSTAND, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

During  the  early  part  of  June  a  committee  on  the  distribution  of 
supplies  was  appointed,  consisting  of  Dr.  Robert  A.  Blood,  Surgeon 
General  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  Dr.  Myles  Standish,  Captain 
Ambulance  Corp,  M.  V.  M.,  and  Dr.  Morton  Prince  of  Boston.  This 
committee  held  frequent  meetings  and  decided  that  the  best  results 
could  only  be  obtained  by  a  personal  investigation  of  the  camps  where 
the  Massachusetts  troops  were  located,  by  one  of  its  number. 

Accordingly,  Dr.  Morton  Prince  visited  Camp  Alger  and  spent 
several  days  in  investigation.  Upon  his  return  the  committee  drew 
up  a  series  of  recommendations,  which  were  of  great  value  to  the 
Executive  Committee. 

On  July  5,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee,  a  supply  com 
mittee  was  appointed,  consisting  of  leading  business  men  in  Boston 
representing  the  principal  lines  of  trade,  to  assist  in  the  purchasing  of 
supplies.  This  committee  met  on  July  16  and  organized,  with  the 
choice  of  Mr.  Samuel  Johnson  of  Boston  as  Chairman  and  Mr.  Elihu 
B.  Hayes,  of  Lynn  as  temporary  Secretary.  The.  committee  was 
divided  into  sub-committees  representing  each  trade,  as  follows  :  — 

(  EBEN  D.  JORDAN. 

Dry  Goods     .     .     .    -|  EDWARD  C.  JOHNSON. 
(  JOHN  SHEPARD. 

(  ROBERT  BATCHELLER. 
Boots  and  shoes  . 

(  Louis  P.  HOWE. 

(  HARRY  DUTTON. 

Drugs •<  J.  S.  BADGER. 

(  ANDREW  G.  WEEKS,  JR. 


Supplies.  43 


C  WALLACE  L.  PIERCE. 

j  JACOB  P.  BATES. 
Groceries  .      .      .      .    <J  J 

I  C.  F.  GOODRIDGE. 

L  WILLIAM  J.  SEAVER. 
Dairy  Products   .     .        FREEMAN  J.  DOE. 

Sugar WILLIAM  S.  SPAULDING. 

GEORGE  V.  FLETCHER. 


Produce  ,  T 

TACOB  FOTTLER. 

Provisions      .     ,     .        SULLIVAN  B.  NEWTON. 
Canned  Fish  .     .     .        EDWARD  B.  NEWTON. 

(  HOWARD  L.  SHURTLEFF. 
Surgical  Instruct,.  j  N_  GREEN_ 

These  various  sub-committees  investigated  the  cost  of  supplies  in 
their  particular  lines  of  trade  and  reported  to  the  purchasing  committee 
for  their  guidance. 

A  purchasing  committee  was  appointed  by  the  Executive  Committee, 
consisting  of  the  Secretary,  Hon.  Elihu  B.  Hayes,  Hon.  Sherman  Hoar, 
and  Hon.  George  v.  L.  Meyer,  and  this  committee  was  authorized  to 
purchase  supplies  upon  emergency  demands,  the  sum  of  five  thousand 
dollars  being  appropriated  for  this  purpose.  This  committee,  thus 
authorized,  was  enabled  to  buy  and  ship  supplies  upon  the  receipt  of 
the  requisition  without  waiting  for  special  authorization  from  the 
Executive  Committee,  and  consequently  was  able  to  act  promptly  and 
efficiently. 

Two  of  the  hospital  ships  belonging  to  the  United  States  Govern 
ment  were  furnished  with  much  needed  supplies  to  be  used  by  the 
sick  and  convalescent  soldiers  and  sailors.  On  July  21,  there  were 
shipped  to^the  hospital  ship  "Solace,"  of  the  Navy  Department,  then 
lying  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  several  cases  of  supplies,  including  143  suits 
of  pajamas,  474  hospital  shirts,  96  mosquito  canopies,  200  pairs  of 
slippers,  100  dozen  pairs  of  stockings,  and  6  cases  of  canned  delicacies. 

On  Aug.  23,  the  United  States  hospital  ship  "  Olivette  "  brought  a 
large  number  of  sick  soldiers  to  Boston  hospitals  for  treatment  and 
care.  The  ship  had  received  orders  from  Washington  to  return  at 


44  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

once  for  an  additional  lot  to  be  brought  North,  and  Major  Appel,  the 
surgeon  in  charge,  requested  the  Secretary  to  supply  the  ship  with  a 
number  of  needed  supplies,  in  order  that  he  might  sail  without  delay. 
No  time  was  to  be  lost,  as  the  need  for  the  services  of  the  ship  was 
urgent,  and  as  several  days  would  be  lost  if  the  desired  supplies  were 
obtained  by  requisition  through  the  regular  army  channels.  The 
Association  gladly  consented  to  supply  the  ship  with  the  things  needed, 
and  she  was  enabled  to  sail  at  once  after  the  supplies  were  placed  on 
board.  She  was  supplied  with  twenty  tons  of  ice,  a  large  quantity  of 
milk,  eggs,  carbonated  water,  and  pajamas. 

In  the  list  of  supplies,  sent  to  Cuba  for  use  in  the  regimental  hospitals, 
there  were  included  several  hundred  tin  boxes,  twenty-four  inches 
long,  eighteen  inches  wide,  and  four  inches  deep.  Each  box  con 
tained  four  bottles  Horlick's  milk,  two  cans  Somatose  biscuits,  four 
boxes  Anker's  bouillon  capsules,  one  pound  of  tea,  three  quarters  pound 
of  lime-fruit  tablets,  one  half  pint  of  brandy,  one  fourth  pint  of  essence 
Jamaica  ginger,  one  pound  Bakers  cocoa,  three  boxes  kola  tablets. 
These  boxes  were  carefully  packed  and  sealed,  and  proved  to  be  a 
very  valuable  and  useful  method  of  sending  these  supplies.  When 
opened  the  contents  were  found  to  be  in  excellent  condition,  and  the 
idea  was  most  heartily  commended  by  the  surgeons  who  made  use  of 
the  boxes  in  Cuba,  for  by  their  use  they  were  enabled  to  give  the  sick 
men  under  their  charge  the  delicacies  they  most  needed,  and  to  vary 
the  regular  hospital  diet  in  a  most  acceptable  manner.  The  suggestion 
in  regard  to  preparing  the  boxes  came  from  Surgeon  Siegfried,  and 
was  at  once  adopted  and  carried  out  by  the  Secretary,  Mr.  Hayes. 

One  of  the  acceptable  and  useful  contributions  made  for  the  benefit 
of  the  sick  soldiers  was  that  made  by  Mrs.  Wolcott,  the  wife  of  the 
Governor  It  consisted  of  a  large  hospital  tent  made  of  wire  screen 
ing,  with  canvass  roof  and  sides  which  could  be  used  whenever  neces 
sary.  This  tent  was  portable,  being  manufactured  so  that  it  could  be 
set  up  quickly  and  accurately  even  by  inexperienced  persons.  For 
patients  in  field  hospitals,  where  the  flies  are  a  constant  source  of  tor 
ment  and  annoyance,  this  tent  was  a  godsend.  It  was  sent  to  Chick- 
amauga  Park,  there  used  in  connection  with  the  hospital,  and  proved 
most  successful.  A  tent  was  also  contributed  by  the  National  Lancers, 


Supplies.  4  5 

for  the  use  of  the  soldiers,  and  was  sent  to  one  of  the  Massachusetts 
regiments  in  the  field  to  be  used  as  a  recreation  and  reading  tent. 

Upon  the  opening  of  the  work  at  Montauk  Point  the  demand  for 
supplies  to  furnish  the  diet  kitchens,  which  had  been  established  at 
that  camp  by  the  Association,  was  very  great,  and  tons  of  food  and 
clothing  were  shipped  to  New  London  and  thence  to  Camp  Wikoff. 
The  first  shipment  from  Boston  to  Montauk  went  consigned  to  Dr. 
William  H.  Prescott  on  Aug  18,  and  consisted  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty-five  cases  of  supplies.  From  this  time  until  the  work  at  that 
camp  ceased,  shipments  were  made  every  day  to  Montauk.  No 
opportunity  was  lost  to  make  effective  the  work  at  Montauk,  —  no 
expense  was  spared  in  sending  forward  the  food  supplies  for  the  sick 
men  which  they  so  much  needed. 

In  order  to  appreciate  the  scope  of  the  work  which  was  accomplished 
in  the  way  of  supplies,  the  following  list  of  articles  sent  to  the  soldiers 
in  camps  and  hospitals  will  be  of  interest.  The  articles  of  clothing 
were  almost  wholly  contributed  by  the  branches  through  the  Women's 
Supply  Committee,  while  the  articles  of  food  and  other  hospital  sup 
plies  were  either  purchased  or  contributed.  When  purchased  the 
benefit  of  liberal  discounts  was  invariably  given  by  the  merchants  of 
whom  they  were  bought. 

Abdominal  bands.  Combs. 

Pajamas.  Palm-leaf  fans. 

Hospital  shirts.  Surgical  pillows. 

Sheets.  Napkins. 

Pillow  cases.  Surgical  sponges. 

Face  cloths.  Surgical  pads. 

Comfort  bags.  Parts  of  uniforms. 

Stockings,  pairs.  Hospital  tents. 

Shoes,  pairs.  Reading  and  recreation  tents. 

Handkerchiefs.  Literature. 

Hammocks.  Cereals. 

Towels.  Crackers. 

Mosquito  nettings.  Eggs. 

Suits  of  underwear.  Milk. 

Blankets.  Cranberry  sauce. 


Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 


Quilts. 

Comforters. 

Bed  spreads. 

Slippers,  pairs. 

Day  shirts. 

Flannel  night  shirts. 

Rolled  bandages. 

Old  linen. 

Pillow  ticks. 

Mattress  ticks. 

Miscellaneous  clothing. 

Kitchen  utensils. 

Chloride  of  lime. 

Sal.  nitre. 

Canned  soup. 

Canned  vegetables. 

Canned  milk. 

Canned  meat  and  fish. 

Mellin's  food. 

Malted  milk. 

Clam  broth. 

Cocoa. 

Jellies. 

Preserves. 

Lime  juice. 

Beef  capsules. 

Tobacco. 

Pipes. 

Drugs. 

Grape  juice. 

Beef  tea. 

Ginger  ale. 

Lithia  water. 

Soap. 

Pickles. 

Beef  extract. 


Apples. 

Limes. 

Lemons. 

Oranges. 

Bitters. 

Ale. 

Wine. 

Whiskey. 

Brandy. 

Oatmeal. 

Gelatine. 

Corn  starch. 

Farina. 

Sugar. 

Prunes. 

Maccaroni. 

Salt. 

Mustard. 

Alcohol. 

Hot  water  bags. 

Ice  bags. 

Matches. 

Sponges. 

Pails. 

Oil  stoves. 

Stoves  for  heating  tents. 

Wash  basins. 

Candles. 

Sheet  lint. 

Aqua  ammonia. 

Scrub  brushes. 

Sapolio. 

Hospital  cots. 

Mosquito  netting. 

Absorbent  cotton. 

Cheese  cloth. 


Supplies.  47 

Tea.  Syringes. 

Coffee.  Rubber  bed  rings. 

Evaporated  apples.  Feeding  cups. 

Flour.  Feeding  tubes. 

Rice.  Medicine  droppers. 

Beans.  Vaseline. 

Peas  Can  openers. 

Jack-knives.  Clinical  thermometers. 
Spoons. 

That  the  care  and  attention  paid  Massachusetts  troops  was  appre 
ciated  is  shown  by  the  following  letters  which  were  received,  acknowl 
edging  the  receipt  of  supplies  sent.  Among  these  letters  will  be  found 
the  grateful  expression  of  the  thanks  of  regular  troops,  nurses  in  United 
States  hospitals,  and  surgeons  and  officers  of  the  regular  army,  as  well 
as  from  Massachusetts  troops. 

Lieut. -Col.  Butler  Ames,  writing  from  Utaudo,  Porto  Rico,  under 
date  of  Sept.  26,  says  :  — 

"  Everyone  speaks  of  how  well  Massachusetts  looks  after  her 
troops,  and  soldiers  from  other  States  have  openly  expressed  a 
regret  that  their  States  were  so  far  behind  in  the  care  and  con 
sideration  of  their  soldiers.  Such  a  thing  makes  one  still  more 
proud  to  hail  from  the  old  Bay  State,  and  still  more  proud  to  be 
included  in  that  body  politic  that  so  well  cares  for  the  common 
weal  or  the  common  woe  of  its  individuals.  What  would  we  have 
done  had  it  not  been  for  the  Volunteer  Aid  Association  and  the 
Red  Cross?" 

HEADQUARTERS   SIXTH    REGIMENT   OF   INFANTRY, 
FIRST  BRIGADE,  M.  V.  M. 

WAKEFIELD,  MASS.,  May  15,  1898. 
Hon.  E.  B.  HAYES, 

Secy.  M.  V.  Aid  Assn.  : 

My  dear  Sir,  —  Magazines  reed,  and   have  been   distributed. 
Please  accept  thanks  of  the  Sixth  Regiment. 
Yours  truly, 

CHAS.  F.  WOODWARD,  Colonel. 


48  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 


HEADQUARTERS   FIRST   REGIMENT   OF   HEAVY   ARTILLERY, 
MASSACHUSETTS  U.  S.  V. 

FORT  WARREN,  BOSTON,  May  16,  1898. 
Mr.  ELIHU  B.  HAYES, 

Secy.  Mass.  Volunteer  Aid  Assn.  : 

Dear  Sir,  —  Colonel   Pfaff    directs    me  to  extend    to  you  the 
thanks  of  the  officers  and  men  of  the  regiment  for  the  magazines 
sent  us  by  your  Association.     Your  kindness  is  thoroughly  appre 
ciated  by  all  of  us,  especially  during  this  bad  weather. 
Yours  respectfully, 

JOSEPH  S.  FRANCIS, 
2d  Lieut,  ist  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery, 

Acting  Adjutant. 

HEADQUARTERS   FIFTH    REGIMENT  OF   INFANTRY, 
SECOND  BRIGADE,  MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEER  MILITIA. 

GLOUCESTER,  May  19,  1898. 
SECRETARY  MASS.  VOLUNTEER  AID  ASSOCIATION  : 

My  dear  Sir,  —  I  am  directed  by  Col.  Whitney  to  acknowledge 
with  many  thanks  the  receipt  of  the  stoves  which  you  so  kindly 
sent  us  and  assure  you  that  they  are  greatly  appreciated. 
I  remain,  Very  respectfully  yours, 

E.   E.   LOCKE,  Adjutant. 


FORT  WARREN,  BOSTON,  May  25,  1898. 
To  THE  VOLUNTEER  AID  ASSN.  : 

Dear  Sirs,  —  Please  accept  the  sincere  thanks  of  the  First 
Heavy  Artillery  for  your  generous  contribution.  Everything  was 
received  promptly  and  in  good  condition  last  evening. 

Four  of  the  pillows  were  put  into  immediate  service  in  our  little 
hospital,  and  be  assured  all  the  other  articles  will  be  put  to  good 
use  and  add  greatly  to  the  comfort  of  the  soldiers. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be  very  gratefully  yours, 

HOWARD  S.  BEARING, 
Major  6°  Surgeon,  is t  Mass.  H.  A.,  U.  S.  Vol. 


Supplies.  49 


U.  S.  SIGNAL  STATION, 
APPLEDORE  ISLAND,  N.  H.,  June  18,  1898. 
SEC'Y  MASS.  VOL.  AID  ASSN.  : 

Dear  Sir,  —  I  wish  to  express  my  most  sincere  thanks  and  those 
of  my  men  for  the  kindness  of  your  Association  in  sending  us  the 
bundle   of   literature  which   was  received  in  good   order.     The 
reading  matter  was  most  welcome. 
Respectfully, 

Louis  F.  GATES,  Chief  Quartermaster. 
(In  charge  of  Station.) 


.    CAMP  ALGER,  FALLS  CHURCH,  VA. 
Hon.  E.  B.  HAYES,  June  20,  1898. 

Sec'y  Vol.  Aid  Assn.  : 

Dear  Sir,  —  I  am  in  receipt  of  the  tent  sent  for  the  benefit  of 
the  Sixth  Regiment.  I  had  it  pitched  yesterday  morning ;  the  boys 
were  delighted  with  it,  and  the  first  use  made  of  it  was  in  the  ser 
vice  of  God.  'Father  Sherman,  son  of  Gen.  Sherman  of  war  fame, 
also  Chaplain  of  a  Michigan  regiment,  came  over  by  invitation  and 
talked  to  the  boys.  Hereafter  they  will  use  the  tent  as  a  reading 
and  writing  room. 

In  behalf  of  the  Sixth  Regiment  I  wish  to  thank  the  Association 
for  their  extreme  kindness.  I  am  sure  the  boys  will  do  honor  to 
their  State  and  credit  to  themselves  in  whatsoever  position  they 
are  put.  Believe  me, 

Very  truly  yours, 

OTIS  H.  MARION, 
Surgeon  6th  Regt.,  U.  S.  V. 


Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 


HEADQUARTERS  FIRST  REGIMENT  OF  HEAVY  ARTILLERY, 

U.  S.  V. 

FORT  PICKERING,  SALEM,  MASS.,  June  30,  1898. 
MASS.  VOL.  AID  ASSN.  : 

Dear  Friends,  — We  beg  to  acknowledge  with  thanks  the  receipt 
of  all  the  articles  mentioned  in  my  last  two  letters. 

Everything  was  received  in  perfect  condition  and  most  promptly. 
Be  assured  of  our  hearty  appreciation  of  your  many  and  valuable 
favors.  Very  respectfully,  your  obt.  servant, 

HOWARD  S.  BEARING, 

Maj.  6-  Surg.,  U.  S.  V. 

HEADQUARTERS   SIXTH    MASS.   REGIMENT  OF  INFANTRY, 
U.  S.  VOLUNTEERS. 

CAMP  ALGER,  VA.,  July  i,  1898. 
HON.  E.  B.  HAYES, 

Sec'y  Mass.  Volunteer  Aid  Association  : 

My  dear  Sir, — The  cases  of  bands,  towels,  etc.,  were  received 
and  will  be  distributed  at  once.     It  is  very  kind  of  your  Asso 
ciation,  and  we  all  appreciate  it,  and  send  our.  most  sincere  thanks 
for  them,  and  also  the  large  tent  sent  some  time  since. 
With  kind  regards  to  all,  I  remain, 
Yours  sincerely, 

CHAS.  F.  WOODWARD,  Colonel. 


ST.   PETER'S   HOSPITAL  OF  THE   SISTERS   OF  THE   POOR  OF 

ST.   FRANCIS, 

HENRY  STREET,  BETWEEN  CONGRESS  AND 
WARREN  STREETS,  BROOKLYN,  N.  Y.,  July  22,  1898. 
MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEER  AID  ASSOCIATION: 

Allow  me  to  express  my  grateful  thanks  to  you  for  the  pajamas 
and  shirts  which  we  received  through  your  kind  consideration  for 
the  wounded  soldiers.  I  assure  you  they  are  highly  appreciated. 


Supplies.  5 1 

Certainly  a  society  which  has  for  its  object  the  worthy  cause  of 
attending  to  the  wants  of  our  heroes  at  the  front  cannot  fail  to 
draw  down  from  Heaven  blessings,  not  only  upon  the  society,  but 
upon  every  individual  member. 

Thanking  you  once  more  for  your  great  kindness,  I  remain, 
Yours  most  gratefully, 

SISTERS  OF  THE  POOR  OF  ST.  FRANCIS. 


FIRST   REGIMENT  U.  S.  VOL.  ENGINEERS, 
CAMP  TOWNSEND,  NEAR  PEEKSKILL,  N.  Y.,  July  23,  1898. 
To  THE  SECRETARY  OF  THE  MASS.  VOLUNTEER  AID  ASSN.  : 

Sir,  —  We,  the  undersigned  committee,  representing  the  Mas 
sachusetts  contingent  of  this  regiment,  have  been  requested  to 
acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  supplies  forwarded  to  us  by  your 
Association. 

We  beg  to  tender  our  sincere  thanks  for  the  same  and  to  assure 
you  that  your  efforts  in  our  behalf  have  been  duly  appreciated  by  us. 
With  such  a  State  and  people  behind  us  we  can  be  counted  on 
to  do  our  duty,  no  matter  when  or  where  called  upon. 

AZEL  AMES,  Jr., 
Capt.  U.  S.  Vol.  JEng.,  Commanding  Co.  K. 

HENRY  F.  ROBERTSON,  Sergt.  Co.  K. 

FIRST  SERGT.  PHILIP  W.  LAURIAT. 

GEORGE  W.  HALE,  Q.  M.  Sergeant  jd  Battalion. 

SERGEANT  ALBERT  S.  ERSKINE. 

CORPORAL  GEO.  D.  BUCKLEY. 

CORPORAL  BENNETT,  Mass.  Clerk  Co.  K  (Secretary). 


HEADQUARTERS   EIGHTH   MASS.  INF.  U.  S.  V., 

CAMP  GEO.  H.  THOMAS, 
CHICKAMAUGA  PARK,  GA.,  August  6,    1898. 
To  Miss  ALICE  S.  CLEMENT, 

Sec.  of  Supply  Committee  : 

Dear  Madam, —  I  take  this   opportunity  to  thank  the    Mass. 
Vol.  Aid  Association,  through  you,  for  the  boxes  containing  the 


52 


Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association, 

following :  160  towels,  4  gross  of  Anker's  beef  capsules,  100 
cheviot  pajamas,  24  cans  of  chicken  soup,  5  large  jars  of  malted 
milk,  24  cans  of  assorted  soup,  12  Ibs.  of  Baker's  cocoa. 

Assuring  you  that  the  supplies  will  be  of  great  service  to  me,  I 
remain,  Very  respectfully  yours, 

WILLIAM  COGSWELL, 

Major  6°  Surgeon,  8th  Mass.  Inf.  U.  S.  V. 
(Dictated.} 

SIBONEY,  CUBA,  Aug.  23,   1898. 
THE  SECRETARY  THE  MASS.  VOLUNTEER 

AID  ASSOCIATION,  Boston,  Mass.  ; 

Sir,  —  In  behalf  of  the  24th  U.  S.  Infantry  allow  me  to  extend 
to  you  our  warmest  thanks  for  the  donation  of  tobacco,  which  our 
regiment,  together  with  others  in  Cuba,  received  some  time  since. 
Our  regiment  has  been  completely  isolated  here  at  Siboney 
since  July  16,  doing  the  most  arduous  and  difficult  service  among 
the  yellow  fever  patients,  and  our  men,  even  those  who  have  any 
money,  have  been  unable  to  go  to  Santiago  to  buy  tobacco  for 
themselves. 

We  appreciate  your  thoughtful  kindness  more  than  I  can  tell  you. 

Yours  very  sincerely, 
J.  C.  JENKS,  ist  Lieut.  6°  Acfg  Adjutant, 

U.  S.  Infantry. 


MASSACHUSETTS  GENERAL   HOSPITAL. 
MASS.  VOL.  AID  ASSOCIATION,  BOSTON,  Aug.  24,  1898. 

1 1  Mt.  Vernon  St.,  Boston : 

'\  he  Massachusetts  General  Hospital  begs  to  acknowledge  the 
five  cases  of  merchandise  received  here  to-day. 

Please   accept   our   thanks   for   these    goods    which    were    so 

promptly  furnished. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

HERBERT  B.  HOWARD, 

Resident  Physician. 


Supplies.  53 

OFFICE  OF  MEDICAL  OFFICER  IN  COMMAND 

MARINE  HOSPITAL  SERVICE, 

PORT  OF  BOSTON  (CHELSEA),  MASS.,  Aug.  25,  1898. 
Miss  ALICE  S.  CLEMENT, 

Sec'y,  Supply  Committee,  M.  V.  A.  A., 

1 1  Mt.  Vernon  Street,  Boston,  Mass. : 

Dear  Miss   Clement,  —  Permit  me  to  thank  you,  on  behalf  of 
the  soldiers,  for  the  additional  supplies  sent  here  to-day.     All  of 
them  were  acceptable,  and  gave  great  pleasure  to  the  poor  fellows. 
Respectfully  yours, 

FAIRFAX  IRWIN, 
Surgeon  M.  H.  S.,  in  Command  of  Hospital. 


CARNEY  HOSPITAL, 

SOUTH  BOSTON,  Aug.  26,  1898. 
JOHN  R.  STORY, 

Supt.  Storehouse  M.  V.  A.  A.  : 

Dear  Sir,  —  I  beg  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  three 
cases  of  merchandise  sent  us  for  the  comfort  of  the  soldiers  at 
present  under  our  care.  Every  article  was  most  acceptable.  In 
the  name  of  our  gallant  heroes  and  our  own,  we  thank  you,  and 
through  you  the  members  of  the  Committee  of  the  Massachusetts 
Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

Most  respectfully  yours, 

SISTER  GONZAGA. 


HEADQUARTERS   FIRST  BATTALION   OF   MARINES. 

CAMP  HEYWOOD,  SEAVEY'S  ISLAND, 

PORTSMOUTH,  N.  H.,  Sept.  4,  1898. 

Sir,  —  There  has  been  received  here  a  quantity  of  oatmeal^ 
malted  milk,  shredded  wheat  biscuit,  pickled  limes,  eggs,  etc., 
which  I  understand  was  sent  by  the  Mass.  Vol.  Aid  Assn.  for  the 
use  of  this  battalion. 


54  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

The  same  has  been  distributed  and  much  appreciated  by  the 
men,  and  on  their  behalf  I  tender  your  Association  thanks  for  its 
generous  remembrance  of  the  battalion  under  my  command. 
Very  respectfully, 

R.    W.    HUNTINGTON, 

Colonel  U.  S.  M.  C.,  Commanding. 
THE  PRESIDENT, 

Mass.  Vol.  Aid  Assn.)  Boston,  Mass. 


HEADQUARTERS   FOURTH  ARMY  CORPS, 

SIGNAL  OFFICE. 
CAMP  WHEELER,  HUNTSVILLE,  ALA., 

Sept.  9,  1898. 
ALICE  S.  CLEMENT, 

Sec'y  of  Supply  Committee  Mass.  Aid  Assn.,  Boston,  Mass. : 
Dear  Madam,  —  Your  kind  favor  of   the   3rd  inst.  has   been 
received,  also  the  articles  therein  invoiced,  viz.  : 
i oo  Abdominal  Bands.       60  Towels. 

100  Handkerchiefs.  70  Hammock  Mosquito  Canopies. 

100  Comfort  Bags.  30  Hospital  Shirts. 

60  Pajamas.  i  Case   of   Writing   Material   and 

Magazines. 

These  articles  are  of  the  greatest  service  to  the  men,  and  your 
kindness  will  be  remembered  by  each  and  every  one  of  us.  The 
Massachusetts  Aid  Society,  whose  praises  we  hear  on  every  hand, 
has  our  sincere  thanks  for  these  articles.  The  company  has  just 
returned  from  Santiago,  and  although  none  of  us  are  really  down 
sick,  we  are  not  in  the  best  condition  possible,  but  trust  that  in  a 
very  short  space  of  time  we  will  all  have  regained  our  health  and 

strength.  Yours  truly, 

THOS.  F.  CLARK,   Capt. 


Supplies.  55 

HEADQUARTERS  SECOND  BRIGADE,  SECOND  DIVISION,  SEVENTH 

ARMY  CORPS. 
OFFICE  OF  BRIGADE  SURGEON. 

JACKSONVILLE,  FLA.,  Sept.  u,  1898. 
MASS.  VOLUNTEER  AID  ASSOCIATION: 

Dear  Sirs,  —  The  invoice  of  night  clothes,  sheets,  pillow  cases, 
etc.,  was  received  in  good  condition,  and  sent  to  the  2d  Division 
Hospital  where  they  will  do  a  great  deal  of  good,  clothing  the 
sick,  many  of  whom  are  much  in  need  of  such  luxuries. 
You  have  the  thanks  of  all  connected  with  the  Hospital. 
Respectfully,  W.  S.  BRYANT, 

Acting  Chief  Surgeon  2d  Division. 


AMERICAN  NATIONAL   RED   CROSS    RELIEF  COMMITTEE. 

552  BROADWAY,  NEW  YORK,  Sept.  14,  1898. 
THE  VOLUNTEER  AID  ASSOCIATION,  Boston,  Mass.: 

Gentlemen,  — The  Supply  Committee  of  the  Red  Cross  begs  to 
acknowledge  with  thanks  the  receipt  of  7  cases  containing  510 
Gauze  Nets  for  Tents.  Yours  truly, 

HELEN  FIDELIA  HOFFMAN, 

For  the.  Supply  Committee. 

HEADQUARTERS  FIRST   REGIMENT  OF    HEAVY  ARTILLERY, 

U.  S.  V. 

CAMP  DALTON,  So.  FRAMINGHAM,  Sept.  26,  1898. 
MASS.  VOL.  AID  ASSN.,  ELIHU  B.  HAYES,  Sec. : 

Dear  Sir,  —  I  desire  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  medi 
cine  your  Association  has  so  kindly  sent  us  on  our  two  last 
requisitions,  viz.,  Salol,  Phenacetine  and  Rhinitis  Tablets.  We 
thank  you  cordially. 

You  will  be  interested  to  know  that  we  burn  our  oil  stove  every 
night  (generally  all  night)  and  all  the  cold  rainy  days  in  our 
field  hospital,  and  you  may  be  sure  it  is  well  appreciated  by  the 
sick  soldiers.  The  hospital  is  the  most  comfortable  place  in  camp 


56  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

I  doubt  if  I  have  to  call  on  you  again  as  we  shall  be  mustered 
out  in  a  short  time.  We  are  very  grateful  for  all  your  many 
favors  and  we  especially  appreciate  the  promptness  with  which  all 
our  requests  have  been  granted.  I  believe  there  is  no  calculating 
the  amount  of  good  your  Association  has  done.  It  has  been  a 
grand  work. 

With  high  esteem,  I  am,  &c.,  very  truly  yours, 

HOWARD  S.  BEARING, 

Major  6°  Surgeon. 

OFFICE  BATTERY  D,  2ND  ARTILLERY, 

FORT  ADAMS,  R.  I.,  Oct.  3,  1898. 
Miss  ALICE  S.  CLEMENT, 

Secretary  of  Supply  Committee, 

Mass.  Volunteer  Aid  Assn.,  Boston,  Mass.: 
Dear  Madam,  —  Your  letter  of  Sept.  30, 1898,  duly  received,  also 
the  comfort  bags,  abdominal  bands  and  mosquito  canopies,  which 
have  this  day  been  distributed  among  the  men  of  the  battery. 

The  men  are  much  pleased  and  have  asked  me  to  thank  your 
Association  for  the  timely  aid  it  has  rendered  in  supplying  these 
articles  which  will  no  doubt  be  of  genuine  service  during  our  stay 
in  Tuba  and  Porto  Rico. 

Believe  me,  yours  very  truly,         DOMINICK  McGRATH, 

\st  Sergeant,  Battery  D. 

SECOND  DIVISION  HOSPITAL, 
Miss  CLEMENT,  JACKSONVILLE,  FLORIDA,  Oct.  4>  1898. 

Secretary  Supply  Committee, 

Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association: 

Dear  Madam,  —  In  the  name  of  all  the  patients  and  the  nurses 
who  have  shared  in  the  distribution  of  the  comforts  contained  in 
the  eleven  boxes  sent  by  your  Association,  I  beg  to  thank  you  and 
all  those  who  have  had  anything  to  do  with  this  matter.  Could 
you  have  witnessed  the  opening  and  distributing  you  would  have 
felt  amply  repaid  for  any  and  all  trouble  it  might  have  caused  in 
the  collecting,  packing  and  sending. 


Supplies.  57 

Nurses  rushed  to  their  tents  with  their  arms  filled  with  shirts 
for  the  very  sick,  with  cotton  pajamas  for  those  able  to  sit  up,  and 
for  those  about  to  leave  for  home  a  warm  suit  of  flannelette  and 
each  a  pair  of  socks.  The  linen  was  a  God-sent  thing ;  we  nurses 
need  it  for  poulticing  hemorrhages  and  for  a  thousand  things. 

The  comfort  bags  have  been  given  for  the  most  part  to  the  male 
attendants,  who  are  often  far  more  in  need  of  a  button  or  a  shoe 
lace  or  a  safety  pin,  and  these  men  all  desire  to  thank  the  Associ 
ation  for  thinking  of  them.  The  towels  were  most  acceptable; 
we  did  n't  have  one  clean  one  on  hand  when  the  box  was  opened. 
And  what  can  we  say  of  the  magazines  and  of  the  envelopes  of 
clippings?  Everything  was  a  treat  and  of  the  greatest  pleasure. 
I  wish  I  could  share  with  you  and  each  one  the  great  surprise  and 
delight  it  has  been  my  lot  to  experience. 

With  the  wish  that  the  loving  hands  and  hearts  may  be  spared 
the  suffering  to  their  loved  ones,  and  that  you  will  tell  how  well  we 
all  appreciated  your  generous  gift,  I  remain, 

Most  gratefully,  ELIZABETH  STADE, 

Nurse,  U.  S.  A. 


FORT  YATES,  N.  DAKOTA,  Dec.  22,  1898. 
MASS.  VOL.  RELIEF  ASSN., 

1 1  Mt.  Vernon  St.,  Boston,  Mass. : 

Dear  Sir,  —  Last  Saturday  evening  I  distributed  the  comfort 
bags,  Testaments,  etc.,  you  so  kindly  sent  our  men. 

They  were  gratefully  rec'd  and  by  a  rising  vote  the  men  wished 
me  to  say  for  them  that  they  deeply  appreciated  the  thoughtful 
generosity  that  prompted  the  gift.  They  desired  me  to  express 
their  heartfelt  thanks  for  your  kindness. 

Personally  I  can  truly  say  that  your  contribution  has  been  a  very 
great  help  to  me  in  my  work. 

I  am  yours  sincerely, 

J.  H.  B.  HEADLEY, 
Post  Chaplain  U.  S.  Army. 


STOREHOUSE. 


THE  need  of  additional  room  in  which  to  handle  and  ship  the 
increasing  quantities  of  supplies  of  every  description  which  were  being 
contributed  by  the  generous  people  of  the  State  and  arriving  daily, 
became  imperative  during  the  first  part  of  the  month  of  July.  Previous 
to  this  time  the  supplies  which  had  been  sent  in  were  received  at  the 
rooms,  ii  Mt.  Vernon  Street,  but  the  limited  accommodations  there 
soon  became  inadequate,  and  compelled  the  Secretary  to  look  about 
for  larger  storage  and  shipping  facilities. 

Several  large  buildings  were  examined  with  a  view  to  obtaining  a 
storehouse  with  sufficient  floor  space  and  convenient  facilities  for  ship 
ping  and  receiving  goods.  After  investigating  several  locations,  the 
Secretary  decided  to  engage  the  first  floor  of  the  Dean  Building  on  India 
Street,  at  the  corner  of  Sears  Street.  The  room  selected  was  on  the 
first  floor,  easy  of  access,  was  well  lighted  by  windows  on  the  front  and 
along  the  entire  length  of  one  side,  and  never  having  been  occupied 
before,  was  fresh  and  clean.  No  better  place  could  have  been  selected, 
its  nearness  to  the  waterfront,  where  the  hospital  ship  "  Bay  State  " 
took  aboard  supplies,  being  an  additional  advantage.  The  action  of 
the  owner  of  the  building,  Mr.  C.  A.  Dean,  in  renting  the  storehouse 
at  a  nominal  price  was  most  generous,  and  the  officers  gratefully 
acknowledged  and  appreciated  most  highly  the  unselfish  and  helpful 
motives  which  prompted  it. 

The  storehouse  was  engaged  during  the  first  week  in  July,  and  on 
Thursday,  July  7,  it  was  formally  opened  to  receive  supplies.  Mr. 
Walter  Austin,  of  Boston,  volunteered  to  assist  in  the  work  at  the 
storehouse,  and  he  was  accordingly  placed  in  charge.  Assistants  were 
engaged  to  receive,  pack,  and  ship  the  supplies  as  well  as  to  attend  to 
the  clerical  work  of  keeping  the  records  of  receipts  and  shipments. 
The  supplies  which  remained  at  the  rooms  at  Mt.  Vernon  Street  were 


Storehouse.  59 

transferred  to  the  new  storehouse,  and  branches  of  the  Association  and 
individuals  who  desired  to  contribute  supplies  were  requested  through 
the  press  to  send  all  such  goods  there. 

On  July  26  Mr.  Austin  accompanied  a  shipment  of  supplies  to 
Santiago,  via  Jamaica,  on  a  steamship  belonging  to  the  Boston  Fruit 
Company,  and  Mr.  John  R.  Story  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the 
storehouse  in  his  place.  Under  Mr.  Story's  supervision,  owing  to  the 
great  increase  in  the  amount  of  supplies  sent  in  daily,  it  became  neces 
sary  that  some  system  should  be  devised  which  should  be  simple  in  its 
operation  but  complete  as  to  the  details  of  the  work.  A  system  was 
therefore  evolved  which  proved  accurate  and  effective. 

Upon  the  receipt  of  supplies  of  any  kind,  a  number,  next  in  order  to 
the  number  of  the  article  previously  received,  was  placed  upon  the 
bundle  or  box  received,  and  a  tag  was  affixed  thereto,  upon  which 
the  same  number  was  marked.  The  bundle  or  box  was  then  opened, 
the  contents  counted,  assorted,  and  the  name  of  the  sender,  together 
with  the  contents,  marked  upon  the  tag.  The  contents  of  the  bundle 
or  box  were  then  placed  in  the  common  storehouse  stock  while  the  tag 
was  returned  to  the  superintendent  to  have  the  supplies  duly  entered 
upon  the  storehouse  books. 

Each  kind  of  supplies  was  kept  in  its  special  location,  which  was 
designated  by  placards  over  each  department,  and  as  soon  as  the  goods 
had  been  received  and  properly  assorted  they  were  repacked  in  cases 
for  shipment,  the  contents  marked  upon  the  outside,  and  the  case 
stencilled  with  the  name  of  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Associa 
tion  and  the  sign  of  the  Red  Cross.  A  record  of  every  case  packed 
and  ready  for  shipment  was  kept,  with  a  list  of  the  contents,  so  that  at 
all  times  a  complete  inventory  of  the  entire  quantity  of  supplies  in  the 
storehouse  was  available. 

Requisitions  for  shipments  were  made  upon  printed  blanks,  especially 
arranged  for  this  purpose,  and  upon  these  blanks  were  entered  the 
name  of  the  consignee,  the  address,  the  route  by  which  the  goods  were 
shipped,  the  date  of  shipment,  and  the  number  of  the  case  shipped, 
with  its  contents.  This  information  was  copied  into  a  letter-book,  and 
the  original  requisition  was  sent  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Supply  Com 
mittee  at  headquarters,  who  entered  the  details  upon  her  books. 


60  Massachusetts   Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

Thus  a  complete  record  was  kept  of  every  article  received,  as  well  as 
of  every  shipment.  The  Supply  Committee  acknowledged  the  receipt 
of  each  and  every  contribution  as  soon  as  possible  after  the  returns 
from  the  storehouse  had  been  received. 

The  work  of  the  women  at  the  storehouse  was  most  important.  The 
Supply  Committee  was  assisted  by  a  large  number  of  such  volunteer 
workers  who  gave  their  time  willingly  and  generously.  A  schedule  was 
arranged  which  provided  for  a  detail  of  women  to  work  at  the  store 
house  on  certain  days  in  each  week.  Many  of  the  women  gave  from 
two  to  four  days  every  week  to  the  work,  reporting  at  nine  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  and  often  staying  to  finish  the  day's  work  until  late  in  the 
afternoon.  Each  day  had  its  captain  of  these  workers,  who  was  respon 
sible  for  the  proper  counting  and  assorting  of  the  supplies  of  clothing 
and  other  articles  which  came  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Women's 
Supply  Committee.  The  faithful  and  conscientious  work  which  was 
performed  by  these  women  was  a  tax  upon  the  physical  energy  of  the 
strongest.  When  it  is  understood  that  the  greatest  amount  of  this 
work  was  performed  in  the  hot  and  trying  months  of  the  summer, 
which,  under  ordinary  circumstances,  they  would  spend  in  the  country 
or  at  the  seashore,  the  devotion  of  these  volunteer  workers  to  the  cause 
in  which  they  were  engaged  was  as  patriotic  as  it  was  generous. 

When  the  system  of  receiving,  assorting,  and  shipping  supplies  was 
fully  developed  and  in  operation  the  work  progressed  smoothly  and 
satisfactorily.  The  largest  shipments  were  handled  without  confusion, 
and  with  the  least  possible  delay.  Sudden  demands  for  supplies  were 
complied  with  without  hesitation,  and  it  was  always  possible  to  ship  tons 
of  supplies  within  the  space  of  time  required  to  mark  the  cases  and 
handle  the  goods  from  the  storehouse  to  the  teams  drawn  up  at  the 
doors. 

In  addition  to  the  women  the  working  force  at  the  storehouse  was 
usually  composed  of  the  superintendent,  receiving  clerk,  shipping  clerk, 
and  packers.  The  number  of  the  latter  varied  with  the  amount  of 
goods  to  be  shipped  from  time  to  time.  For  some  weeks,  when  the 
demand  for  supplies  was  the  greatest,  and  when  expert  help  in  packing 
the  various  articles  was  necessary,  the  Association  was  furnished  with 
several  expert  packers  from  the  establishments  of  Houghton  &  Button, 


Storehouse.  6 1 

Shepard,  Norwell  &  Co.,  Jordan,  Marsh  &  Co.,  and  R.  H.  White  &  Co. 
These  men,  being  accustomed  to  the  rapid  and  economical  packing  of 
goods,  were  of  the  greatest  value  as  an  addition  to  the  regular  force, 
and  greatly  facilitated  the  handling  of  the  vast  quantities  of  supplies 
which  were  shipped  during  those  busy  weeks. 

The  Association  in  this  department  of  work  is  also  indebted  to  the 
Fairbanks  Scale  Company  for  a  pair  of  scales,  which  were  kindly 
loaned,  and  to  the  Old  South  Historical  Society  for  a  large  number  of 
chairs. 


THE    HOSPITAL    SHIP   "BAY    STATE."   - 


THE  fact  that  the  war  with  Spain  was  to  be  carried  on  in  the  islands 
of  Cuba  and  Porto  Rico  made  it  imperative  that  some  means  of  water 
transportation  should  be  provided  to  bring  sick  and  wounded  soldiers 
into  the  healthier  climate  of  the  North,  and  to  forward  its  supplies 
promptly  and  efficiently  without  dependence  upon  the  government  trans 
ports.  As  the  full  capacity  of  these  transports  was  constantly  required 
for  the  shipments  of  troops  and  army  supplies,  it  was  early  apparent 
that  a  steamship  belonging  to  the  Association  would  be  necessary  for 
service  as  a  hospital  ship,  and  for  the  efficient  delivery  of  supplies. 

The  great  problem  which  confronted  the  Executive  Committee  was 
the  matter  of  securing  a  ship  which  should  be  at  the  same  time  reason 
able  in  price  and  of  sufficient  size  to  perform  effective  service.  Early 
in  May,  directly  after  organization,  the  Secretary  consulted  the  Surgeon 
General  of  the  Navy,  VV.  K.  VanReypen,  regarding  the  cost  of  the 
hospital  ship  "  Solace,"  which  had  then  been  recently  fitted  out  by 
the  Navy  Department,  and  which  was  regarded  as  a  model  hospital 
ship. 

Surgeon-General  Van  Reypen  showed  him  every  courtesy,  and  ad 
vised  that,  because  of  the  many  minute  and  complex  problems  which 
the  Navy  Department  had  been  obliged  to  solve  in  fitting  out  the 
"  Solace,"  an  officer,  familiar  with  the  details  of  such  work,  should  place 
himself  in  communication  with  the  officers  of  the  Massachusetts  Vol 
unteer  Aid  Association,  in  order  that  its  work  might  be  promptly  and 
intelligently  consummated.  Accordingly,  he  detailed  Surgeon  C.  A. 
Siegfried,  U.  S.  N.,  stationed  at  the  Torpedo  Station  at  Newport, 
R.  J.,  to  go  to  Boston,  and  to  give  to  the  officers  of  the  Association 
detaijed  statements  concerning  the  equipment  of  the  hospital  ship 
"  Solace." 

The  letter  of  the  Surgeon-General  of  the  Navy  was  as  follows :  — 


The  Hospital  Ship  "Bay  State."  63 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  May  14,  1898. 

Dear  Sir,  —  I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  telegram 
of  the  1 3th,  requesting  me  to  furnish  you,  in  detail,  by  mail,  with 
suggestions  in  relation  to  the  equipping  and  supplying  of  a  hospital 
ship.  This  is  an  undertaking  which  requires  a  great  deal  of  per 
sonal  attention.  I  have  therefore  requested  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy  to  detail  Surgeon  Charles  A.  Siegfried,  now  on  duty  at  the 
Torpedo  Station,  Newport,  R.  I.,  to  confer  with  you,  as  the  repre 
sentative  of  this  Bureau,  in  relation  to  the  subject.  I  have  sent 
Surgeon  Siegfried  the  plans  and  modifications  necessary  for  a 
hospital  ship,  and  have  previously  conferred  with  him  in  relation 
to  the  general  subject,  so  that  he  is  fully  aware  of  the  views  and 
plans  of  the  Bureau.  You  will  find  him  a  courteous  and  intelli 
gent  gentleman,  well  versed  in  sanitary  science,  and  one  who  has 
given  a  great  deal  of  attention  to  the  subject  of  the  care  and 
transportation  of  wounded  in  battle.  I  trust  that  you  may  be  able 
to  obtain  from  him  all  the  information  you  may  require. 
Very  respectfully, 

W.  K.  VAN  REYPEN, 

Surgeon-  General  U.  S.  JV. 
HON.  E.  B.  HAYES, 

Secretary  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association, 
State  House,  Boston,  Mass. 

Dr.  Siegfried  came  to  Boston,  and  the  results  of  his  competent  and 
careful  advice,  made  doubly  valuable  by  his  long  experience  in  naval 
affairs,  and  especially  by  his  professional  knowledge  of  climatic  con 
ditions  in  the  tropics;  gave  to  the  officers  the  intelligent  understanding 
which  they  needed  of  the  work  which  a  hospital  ship  could  do,  and 
the  probable  expense  attending  the  preparation  of  one. 

Mr.  Robert  M .  Burnett  was  requested  by  the  Executive  Committee, 
of  which  he  was  a  member,  to  ascertain  if  a  suitable  ship  for  hospital 
work  could  be  purchased.  Mr.  Burnett  examined  a  large  number  of 
ships  which  proved  unavailable.  A  steamship  named  "  Marmion," 
then  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  owned  by  the  Boston  Fruit  Company,  was 
brought  to  his  attention,  and  on  May  28,  in  company  with  Dr.  Sieg 
fried,  he  went  to  Baltimore  to  examine  it. 


64  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

As  a  result  of  this  examination,  the  "  Marmion  "  was  pronounced  a 
suitable  ship  for  the  purposes  required,  and  authority  was  accordingly 
given  for  the  purchase  of  this  vessel.  On  May  31  she  passed  into  the 
possession  of  the  Association  and  was  ordered  to  Boston  to  be  fitted 
out,  arriving  on  June  6.  The  purchase  price  was  fifty  thousand  dollars. 
Up  to  this  time,  June  i,  the  funds  of  the  Association  had  been  grow 
ing  generously,  but  they  had  not  then  nearly  mounted  to  the  large 
figures  necessary  to  meet  the  cost  of  both  purchase  and  equipment. 
Accordingly,  in  order  that  the  outfitting  of  the  ship  might  not  be 
retarded,  it  was  thought  best  by  the  Committee  to  ask  Gov.  Wolcott  to 
purchase  the  ship  for  the  Association  out  of  the  fund  of  five  hundred 
thousand  dollars  appropriated  in  May  for  war  purposes  by  the  Legislature. 
The  following  letter  was  sent  to  Gov.  Wolcott  by  the  Chairman,  Mr. 
Eben  S.  Draper,  of  Hopedale  :  — 

BOSTON,  June  3,  1898. 
To  His  EXCELLENCY  ROGER  WOLCOTT,  GOVERNOR  : 

Dear  Sir,  —  The  Executive  Committee  of  the  Massachusetts 
Volunteer  Aid  Association  has  given  much  time  and  thought  to  the 
best  manner  of  supplying  our  soldiers  and  sailors  in  the  service 
of  the  United  States  Government  with  such  supplies  as  may  be 
necessary  to  their  welfare  and  comfort  during  their  arduous  service 
in  the  army  and  navy. 

A  great  many  suggestions  have  been  made  to  us  which  we  have 
considered,  but  one  which  commends  itself  most  to  our  judgment 
has  been  that  we  should  procure  and  properly  equip  a  steamer 
which  could  carry  supplies  of  all  kinds  to  the  men  in  the  field,  and 
also  serve  in  some  sense  as  a  hospital  ship,  and  as  a  transport  for 
invalid  men  either  from  the  battlefields  in  Cuba  or  from  Southern 
or  West  Indian  ports  to  hospitals  or  refuge  further  North.  Through 
members  of  our  Committee  we  have  examined  various  ships,  and 
have  found  most  of  them  that  we  have  looked  at  to  be  unsuited  for 
various  reasons  to  this  purpose.  We  have,  however,  found  one 
ship,  "  Marmion"  by  name,  which  has  been  plying  to  and  from 
the  West  Indian  ports,  which,  with  a  reasonable  expenditure  for 
alterations,  we  believe  would  suit  our  purposes.  The  company 
owning  this  ship  has  offered  to  sell  her  to  us  at  an  extremely  low 


The  Hospital  Ship  "Bay  State."  65 

price,  viz. :  $50,000,  and  has  further  agreed  to  be  bidders  for  her 
after  our  use  if  we  will  alter  her  back  into  substantially  the  same 
condition  in  which  we  take  her.  Of  course  we  should  have  to  pay 
a  substantial  sum  for  a  charter  price,  and  the  expenses  of  running 
her,  including  crew,  coal,  etc.,  would  be  large.  Beyond  this  we 
should  have  to  furnish  a  large  amount  of  supplies  to  be  delivered 
to  our  soldiers  and  sailors.  All  these  expenses  will  be  very 
considerable. 

We  were  inclined  to  charter  a  ship  rather  than  to  think  of  buy 
ing  one,  but  under  the  war  conditions  existing,  the  owners  refused 
to  charter  their  ships.  It  would  therefore  be  necessary  for  this 
Association  to  pay  the  amount  of  the  purchase  price  on  taking 
possession  of  the  ship.  This  amount,  as  we  said  before,  is  $50,000, 
and  we  can  think  of  no  better  way  that  Massachusetts  could  loan 
money  than  by  aiding  her  soldiers  and  sailors  engaged  in  the  war. 
When  I  say  loan  money,  I  mean  that  we  consider  it  a  loan,  because 
in  case  the  ship  is  not  wrecked  or  destroyed,  the  money  furnished 
would  be  returned  to  the  State  after  the  war  is  over.  The  State 
would,  of  course,  run  the  risk  of  losing  the  money  it  paid  for  the 
ship  in  case  she  would  be  destroyed  or  captured. 

We  feel  sure,  if  this  money  can  be  furnished  to  us  by  the  State 
for  the  purchase  of  a  ship,  that  through  the  voluntary  contributions 
of  the  patriotic  people  of  Massachusetts  we  can  equip  and  run  her 
and  furnish  supplies  of  all  kinds  to  our  men  engaged  in  the  war. 
It  might  be  necessary  for  us  to  fly  the  Red  Cross  flag  to  protect 
us  and  to  give  us  an  opportunity  to  do  much  good  in  the  most 
efficient  way.  We  should,  under  these  circumstances,  be  debarred 
from  carrying  anything  except  sick  men  and  supplies  for  the  sick, 
and  should,  of  course,  live  strictly  up  to  these  requirements. 

We  have  been  informed,  on  what  we  consider  the  best  authority, 
that  what  would  do  more  good  than  anything  else  to  our  sick  men 
in  the  Southern  climates  would  be  the  furnishing  of  good,  whole 
some,  fresh  food.  .One  part  of  the  equipment  of  this  ship  would 
be  an  ice  machine  and  a  cold  storage  room,  so  that  we  could  carry 
all  sorts  of  fresh  supplies  direct  to  the  men  in  the  field.  It  would 
be  at  times  impossible  for  us  to  ship  anything  of  this  kind  over 


66  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

the  railroad  or  by  express  companies,  and  have  it  delivered  fresh 
to  our  soldiers  and  sailors,  but  by  the  aid  of  this  ship  we  could  do 
this  work,  and,  in  addition,  rescue  the  sick  and  the  suffering,  and 
bring  them  to  hospitals  near  their  homes.  We  believe  that  there 
is  no  better  method  of  aiding  our  volunteers  than  this,  and  we 
further  believe  that  there  is  no  nobler  work  in  which  the  State  of 
Massachusetts  can  employ  itself  than  in  assisting  this  enterprise. 

We  therefore  ask  of  the  State  the  sum  of  $50,000  to  be  used  for 
the  purpose  stated  above.  EBRN  g>  DRAPER|  chairman. 

Gov.  Wolcott  deemed  it  expedient,  before  complying  with  this  request, 
to  obtain  express  authority  from  the  Legislature  for  this  expenditure, 
his  reason  being  that  when  the  appropriation  of  five  hundred  thousand 
dollars  was  passed,  no  definite  consideration  of  a  hospital  ship  had 
arisen,  and  that,  therefore,  in  appropriating  that  sum  the  Legislature 
could  not  have  anticipated  the  use  of  any  part  of  the  money  for  the 
purpose  of  buying  such  a  ship.  He  deemed  it  wise,  therefore,  to  send 
a  special  message  to  the  Legislature  setting  forth  the  purpose  of  the 
hospital  ship,  and  requesting  that  he  be  given  authority  to  advance 
the  purchase  money  out  of  his  appropriation. 

His  message  was  sent  June  6,  and  reads  as  follows  :  — 

"To  the  Senate  and  House  : 

"  I  ask  the  careful  consideration  of  your  honorable  bodies  of  a 
communication  transmitted  herewith  from  the  Chairman  of  the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Asso 
ciation,  regarding  the  purchase  and  equipment  of  a  vessel  to  act 
as  a  relief  and  hospital  ship  to  our  soldiers  in  the  service  of  the 
United  States,  and  requesting  that  the  Commonwealth  purchase 
a  vessel  for  the  above  purpose,  the  cost  thereof  to  be  returned 
wholly  or  in  part  to  the  treasury  of  the  Commonwealth  at  the  close 
of  the  war  unless  circumstances  which  do  not  now  seem  probable 
intervene  to  make  this  impossible. 

"  The  plan  presented  in  this  communication  has  received  the 
approval  of  United  States  officers  and  is  in  my  opinion  deserving 
of  favorable  consideration." 


The  Hospital  Ship  "Bay  State."  67 

The  message  of  the  Governor  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on 
Ways  and  Means,  which  committee  reported,  "  No  legislation  neces 
sary,"  upon  the  ground  that  they  considered  that  the  Governor  already 
had  full  authority  to  take  action  in  the  matter.  The  Governor  still 
deemed  it  inexpedient  to  act  without  the  consent  of  the  Legislature, 
and  in  accordance  with  his  wishes  the  following  Resolve  was  passed  by 
both  branches  of  the  Legislature  unanimously  :  — 

"Resolved,  That  the  Governor  is  hereby  authorized1  in  his  dis 
cretion,  to  expend  from  any  appropriation  heretofore  made  at  the 
present  session  of  the  General  Court,  and  to  be  expended  under 
the  direction  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  for  Military  and  Naval 
expenses,  a  sum  not  exceeding  fifty  thousand  dollars,  to  purchase, 
for  the  use  of  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association,  a 
suitable  steamer  to  be  used  for  hospital  purposes  during  the 
present  war,  said  steamer  to  be  soldjifter  the  declaration  of  peace, 
and  the  proceeds  thereof  to  be  paid  into  the  Treasury  of  the 
Commonwealth." 

This  Resolve  was  immediately  signed  by  His  Excellency,  the  Gover 
nor,  and  thus  became  a  law  on  June  23. 

On  June  7,  the  day  after  the  arrival  of  the  ship  in  Boston,  a  com 
mittee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Robert  M.  Burnett,  Elihu  B.  Hayes,  and 
George  v.  L.  Meyer,  was  appointed  to  have  charge  of  the  preparation 
of  the  hospital  ship.  Under  the  direction  of  this  committee  the  pre 
liminary  work  of  transforming  the  fruiUsteamer  into  a  hospital  ship  was 
at  once  entered  upon  at  the  AtlanticJWorks,  East  Boston. 

As  the  work  upon  the  ship  increased  in  magnitude,  and  as  the 
demands  upon  this  committee  became  more  numerous  and  exacting, 
the  Executive  Committee  voted  on  June  27  to  appoint  a  Board  of 
Control  to  have  full  charge  of  all  contracts  and  all  other  matters  con 
nected  with  the  equipment,  supply,  and  control  of  the  ship.  The 
Board  of  Control  consisted  of  Messrs.  Robert  M.  Burnett,  Henry  L. 
Higginson,  and  Dr.  Herbert  L.  Burrell.  As  Dr.  Burrell  was  suddenly 
called  to  Europe  upon  urgent  business,  during  the  progress  of  the  ship's 
preparation,  Dr.  Edward  H.  Bradford  was  chosen  to  act  as  a  member 
of  the* Board  of  Control  during  the  former's  absence. 


68  Massachusetts    Volunteer   Aid  Association. 

The  steamship  "  Marmion,"  when  purchased,  was  sailing  under  a 
British  register.  A  ship  cannot  be  transferred  in  time  of  war  from  a 
neutral  power  to  one  engaged  in  hostilities,  and  therefore  it  became 
necessary  that  the  ship  "  Marmion  "  should  be  transferred  to  the  pos 
session  of  some  individual  in  this  country  before  it  could  be  legally 
transferred  to  the  State.  Mr.  Robert  M.  Burnett  and  Mr.  Henry  L. 
Higginson  of  the  Executive  Committee  acted  as  representatives  of  the 
Association  in  this  transaction,  and  the  ship  was  transferred  to  them  on 
June  21,  and  from  them  transferred  to  the  ownership  of  the  Common 
wealth  of  Massachusetts. 

In  the  preparation  of  the  ship  for  the  work  which  it  was  to  perform, 
the  Board  of  Control  gave  careful  thought  to  the  details.  In  the 
mechanical  as  well  as  in  the  medical  outfitting  of  the  hospital  portion 
of  the  ship,  the  aid  of  many  of  the  ablest  experts  in  these  departments 
in  the  State  was  enlisted.  Medical  committees  composed  of  from 
three  to  five  members  each  were  appointed  by  Dr.  Burrell,  and  these 
committees  investigated  and  reported  upon  the  varied  kinds  of  hospital 
equipments  and  apparatus  required.  Each  of  these  sub-committees 
did  its  particular  investigation  regarding  the  quantities  and  the  most 
suitable  kind  of  the  needed  supplies,  and  reported  the  results  to  the 
Board  of  Control  for  their  information  and  guidance.  There  were 
twenty-five  of  these  sub-committees  at  work  during  the  ship's  prepara 
tion,  and  the  information  which  they  were  able  to  give  to  the  Board  of 
Control  was  of  the  greatest  importance  and  assisted  materially  in  the 
solving  of  many  difficult  problems. 

The  committees  and  the  subjects  with  which  they  had  to  deal  were 
as  follows :  — 

Committee  on  Instruments  and  X-Ray  Appafatus.  —  Drs.  A.  T. 
Cabot,  F.  H.  Williams,  Homer  Gage,  and  E.  A.  Codman. 

Committee  on  Sterilization  of  Surgical  Materials.  —  Drs.  M.  H. 
Richardson,  W.  P.  Bolles,  and  Farrar  Cobb. 

Committee  on  Clinical  Laboratory.  —  Drs.  H.  P.  Walcott,  W.  T. 
Councilman,  and  J .  T.  Bottomley. 

Committee  on  Photographs.  —  Drs.  E.  A.  Codman  and  J.  Bapst  Blake. 

Commitlee  on  Surgical  Apparatus. —  Drs.  W.  M.  Conant,  H.  W. 
Gushing,  and  C.  F.  Painter. 


The  Hospital  Ship  ^Bay  State."  69 

Committee  on  Equipment  of  Medicines.  —  Gen.  R.  A.  Blood,  Dr. 
W.  L.  Richardson,  and  Mr.  Charles  A.  Clough. 

Committee  on  Water  and  Ice  Supply.  —  Drs.  H.  C.  Ernst,  S.  W. 
Abbott,  and  Charles  Harrington. 

Committee  on  Equipment  of  Vessel.  —  Urs.  E.  H.  Bradford,  H.  L. 
Burrell,  F.  G.  Balch,  Paul  Thorndike,  E.  G.  Brackett,  J.  W.  Bartol, 
and  Mr.  T.  J.  Manahan. 

Committee  on  Nurses.  —  Dr.  Grace  Wplcott. 

Committee  on  Eqiiipment  of  Railroad  Trains. —  Drs.  John  Romans, 
Charles  Williams,  Lincoln  R.  Stone,  and  Melville  E.  Webb. 

Committee  on  Food  Supplies.  —  Drs.  G.  H.  M.  Rowe,  John  Gray 
Park,  and  Mrs.  Ellen  H.  Richards. 

Committee  on  Yellow  Fever.  —  Drs.  C.  F.  Folsom,  G.  A.  Durgin,  and 
J.  H.  Wright. 

Committee  on  Dysentery. — Drs.  F.  C.  Shattuck,  C.  F.  Withington, 
and  W.  T.  Councilman. 

Committee  on  Typhoid  Fever.  —  Drs.  G.  B.  Shattuck,  E.  G.  Cutler, 
and  Richard  Cabot. 

Committee  on  Cholera.  — Drs.  S.  H.  Durgin  and  S.  W.  Abbott. 

Committee  on  Smallpox.  —  Drs.  J.  H.  McCollom  and  T.  B.  Shea. 

Committee  on  Ophthalmic  Diseases.  —  Drs.  C.  F.  Wadsworth  and 
Myles  Standish. 

Committee  on  System  of  Records  for  Patients.  —  Drs.  R.  H.  Fitz, 
George  G.  Sears,  Henry  Jackson,  and  John  Dane. 

Committee  on  Accounts  of  Distribution  of  Supplies.  —  Dr.  W.  N.  Bui- 
lard,  Mr.  Henley  Luce,  and  Dr.  George  H.  Monks. 

Committee  on  Tents.  —  Drs.  Myles  Standish  and  G.  H.  M.  Rowe. 

Committee  on  Uniforms.  —  Drs.  C.  M.  Green,  Abner  Post,  and  Mr- 
W.  W.  Churchill. 

Committee  on  Medical  Inspection  of  Camps  and  Distribution  of  Supplies 
to  Troops.  —  Gen.  R.  A*.  Blood,  Drs.  Morton,  Prince,  and  Myles  Standish. 

Committee  on  Ventilation  and  Electric  Lights.  —  Prof.  W.  T.  Sedg- 
wick,  Mr.  E.  M.  Wheelwright,  Dr.  Charles  Harrington,  Mr.  Charles 
F.  Adams,  2d,  and  Prof.  I.  N.  Hollis. 

Committee  to  arrange  the  Detail  of  Life  aboard  Ship.  —  Dr.  E.  H. 
Bradford,  Prof.  I.  N.  Hollis,  and  Dr.  Myles  Standish. 


yo  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

Committee  on  Equipment  of  a  Relief  Station.  —  Drs.  C.  Ellery  Sted- 
man,  R.  W.  Greenleaf,  and  Mr.  Robert  M.  Burnett. 

While  the  work  of  preparing  the  ship  was  busily  progressing,  it 
became  necessary  that  a  representative  of  the  Association  should  con 
fer  with  the  authorities  at  Washington,  and  secure  the  consent  of  the 
President  and  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  for  the  ship  to  fly  the  Red 
Cross  flag,  in  accordance  with  the  regulation  imposed  by  the  Geneva 
International  Convention  of  1868. 

Article  XIII.  (concerning  the  marine)  of  the  rules  promulgated  by 
the  Geneva  (Red  Cross)  Convention,  and  adopted  by  the  United 
States  relating  to  the  government  of  hospital  ships  equipped  at  the 
expense  of  aid  societies,  reads  as  follows  :  — 

"  The  hospital  ships  which  are  equipped  at  the  expense  of  the 
aid  societies,  recognized  by  the  governments  signing  this  conven 
tion,  and  which  are  furnished  with  a  commission  emanating  from 
the  sovereign,  who  shall  have  given  express  authority  for  their 
being  fitted  out,  and  with  a  certificate  from  the  proper  naval 
authority  that  they  have  been  placed  under  his  control  during 
their  fitting  out  and  on  their  final  departure,  and  that  they  were 
then  appropriated  solely  to  the  purpose  of  their  mission,  shall  be 
considered  neutral,  as  well  as  the  whole  of  their  staff.  They  shall 
be  recognized  and  protected  by  the  belligerents. 

"  They  shall  make  themselves  known  by  hoisting,  together  with 
their  national  flag,  the  white  flag  with  a  red  cross.  The  distinc 
tive  mark  of  their  staff,  while  performing  their  duties,  shall  be  an 
armlet  of  the  same  colors.  The  outer  painting  of  these  ships 
shall  be  white  with  red  strake. 

"  These  ships  shall  bear  aid  and  assistance  to  the  wounded  and 
wrecked  belligerents,  without  distinction  of  nationality. 

"  They  must  take  care  not  to  interfere  in  any  way  with  the  move 
ments  of  the  combatants.  During  and  after  the  battle  they  must 
do  their  duty  at  their  own  risk  and  peril. 

"  The  belligerents  shall  have  the  right  of  controlling  and  visiting 
them ;  they  will  be  at  liberty  to  refuse  their  assistance,  to  order 
them  to  depart,  and  to  detain  them  if  the  exigencies  of  the  case 
require  such  a  step. 


The  Hospital  Ship  "  Bay  State. "  71 

"  The  wounded  and  wrecked  picked  up  by  these  ships  cannot  be 
reclaimed  by  either  of  the  combatants,  and  they  will  be  required 
not  to  serve  during  the  continuance  of  the  war." 

Hon.  Sherman  Hoar  represented  the  Association  in  this  work  at  the 
Capitol,  and  to  his  energetic  efforts  is  due  the  successful  completion  of 
the  many  details  in  this  official  connection.  The  Government  recog 
nized  the  work  of  the  Association,  and  approved  heartily  of  its  plans 
for  outfitting  and  operating  a  hospital  ship.  Every  courtesy  was 
shown  Mr.  Hoar  by  the  officials  at  Washington,  and  on  June  23  the 
commission  of  the  ship  was  duly  signed  by  President  McKinley  and 
countersigned  by  Hon.  John  D.  Long,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

THE  COMMISSION  WITNESSETH  :  That  the  Massachusetts  Vol 
unteer  Aid  Association  hereby  is  recognized  by  the  Government 
of  the  United  States  of  America  as  an  aid  society  within  the 
terms  of  Article  XIII.  of  the  Geneva  (Red  Cross)  Convention, 
during  the  pending  war  between  the  United  States  of  America  and 
the  kingdom  of  Spain ;  that  said  Association  hereby  is  expressly 
authorized  to  fit  out  and  equip,  at  its  own  expense,  a  hospital 
ship  for  all  the  purposes  of  such  a  ship  during  said  war,  said  ship 
to  be  named  the  "  Bay  State  " ;  and  that  C.  A.  Siegfried,  Medical 
Inspector  of  the  United  States  Navy,  hereby  is  authorized  to  have 
control  of  said  hospital  ship  during  her  fitting  out  and  on  her 
final  departure,  and  to  issue  his  certificate  as  the  proper  naval 
authority  under  Article  XIII.  of  the  Geneva  (Red  Cross)  Conven 
tion,  aforesaid,  that  she  had  been  so  placed  under  his  control,  and 
that  she  is  then  appropriated  solely  to  the  purposes  of  her  mission. 

Given  under  my  hand  at  Washing- 

By  the  President  ton   this  twenty-third  day  of  June, 

in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand 

JOHN  D.  LONG,  eight  hundred  and  ninety-eight,  and 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,     in  the  T22d  year  of  the  Independ 
ence  of  the  United  States. 

WILLIAM  McKiNLEY. 


72  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

Before  the  departure  of  the  "  Bay  State  "  upon  its  first  trip,  letters 
from  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  John  D.  Long,  and  Secretary  of  War, 
Russell  A.  Alger,  were  received,  lending  official  sanction  to  the  ship's 
mission,  and  granting  it  the  co-operation  of  the  navy  and  army  in 
obtaining  coaling  privileges  and  other  official  assistance  when  needed. 

Secretary  Long's  letter  is  as  follows  :  — 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT, 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  July  22,  1898. 

Sir,  —  The  hospital  ship  "  Bay  State  "  has  been  fitted  out  by  the 
Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association,  and  has  been  commis 
sioned  by  the  United  States  Government,  under  the  international 
Red  Cross  Convention.  The  purpose  of  the  ship,  under  the 
direction  of  its  surgeon  superintendent,  Dr.  H.  L.  Burrell,  is  to 
aid  the  medical  authorities  of  the  army  and  navy  of  the  United 
States  in  caring  for  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  and  sailors. 
You  are  directed  to  aid  and  assist  the  authorities  of  the  "  Bay 
State "  so  far  as  practicable.  When  they  need  coal  and  cannot 
otherwise  obtain  it,  you  are  authorized  to  supply  it,  if  it  can  be 
spared,  taking  a  receipt  in  duplicate  for  the  amount,  and  cash  or 
draft  on  Lee,  Higginson  and  Co.,  of  Boston,  in  payment. 
Very  respectfully, 

JOHN  D.  LONG,  Secretary. 
To  COMMANDING  OFFICERS  OF  UNITED  STATES  SQUADRONS  AND  VESSELS. 

Secretary  Alger's  letter  was  addressed  to  army  officers  and  was 
identical  in  wording  with  that  of  Secretary  Long,  with  the  exception  of 
the  paragraph  relating  to  coal,  which  was  omitted. 

Letters  of  introduction  were  also  provided  the  surgeon-superinten 
dent  as  follows  :  — 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT, 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  July  22,  1898. 

Dear  Doctor,  —  Permit  me  to  introduce  Dr.  H.  L.  Burrell, 
Surgeon- Superintendent  of  the  Massachusetts  Aid  Society  Hospital 
Ship  "Bay  State."  He  goes  in  charge  of  the  "Bay  State"  to 
care  for  any  sick  or  wounded  of  the  Army  or  Navy. 


The  Hospital  Ship  "Bay  State."  73 

I  hope  you  will  extend  him  all   the   facilities  in   your  power 
toward  the  accomplishment  of  his  good  work. 
Yours  very  truly, 

W.  K.  VAN  REYPEN, 

Surgeon- General,    U.  S.  Navy. 
C.  M.  GRAVATT,  U.  S.  N.,  Fleet- Surgeon, 
U.  S.  Flagship  "New  York." 


WAR   DEPARTMENT. 

SURGEON-GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

WASHINGTON,  Aug.  2,  1898. 
To  THE  OFFICERS  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.  S.  A.  : 

Gentlemen, — The  Hospital  Ship  "Bay  State,"  having  been 
equipped  and  fitted  out  by  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid 
Association,  is  in  charge  of  the  Surgeon-Superintendent,  Dr. 
Herbert  L.  Burrell,  and  I  have  requested  him  to  render  such 
supplementary  aid  and  assistance  to  you  as  may  be  required. 
Very  truly  yours, 

GEORGE  M.  STERNBERG, 

Surgeon- General,    U.  S.  A. 

Dr.  Herbert  L.  Burrell  was  designated  by  the  Board  of  Control  as 
Surgeon  Superintendent  of  the  ship  to  act  as  sole  representative  of  the 
Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association,  and  to  have  full  and  unlimited 
authority  in  every  matter  connected  with  the  vessel  and  its  work  as 
soon  as  she  was  completed  and  ready  for  sea. 

The  selection  of  the  medical  officers  of  the  ship,  the  corps  of  female 
nurses  and  baymen,  as  well  as  the  ship's  officers  and  crew,  was  a  matter 
which  demanded  much  careful  attention.  As  finally  made  up  the 
roster  of  the  ship's  company  was  as  follows  :  — 

Medical  Department.  —  Surgeon-superintendent,  Dr.  Herbert  L. 
Burrell;  first  surgeon,  Dr.  E.  A.  Crockett;  second  surgeon,  Dr.  J.  T. 
Bottomley;  purser,  Mr.  W.  H.  Seabury;  first  assistant  surgeon,  Mr.  T. 
J.  Manahan;  second  assistant  surgeon,  Mr.  C,  L.  Spaulding. 

Nurses.  —  Head  nurse,  Miss  C.  W.  Cayford;  Miss  Janet  Anderson, 


74  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

Miss  Muriel  G.  Gait,  Miss  Anna  M.  Blair,  Miss  Sadie  Parsons,  Miss 
Sarah  Fraser. 

Baymen.  —  S.  Hooker,  F.  P.  Droese,  L.  L.  Kemp,  W.  F.  Lyford, 
Peter  Salveson,  N.  E.  Nichols. 

Navigation  Department.  —  Deck  Department,  P.  F.  Butman,  master  ; 
Charles  Clare,  first  officer ;  William  M.  Swasey,  second  officer. 

Quartermasters.  —  Solomon  Bateman,  George  A.  Gridley. 

Boatswain.  —  Charles  Brown. 

Seamen. —  William  Offenberg,  Harry  Soutter,  William  A.  Green, 
James  Galligan. 

Engineer  Department.  —  Charles  Lindgren,  chief  engineer;  H.Kelly, 
first  assistant ;  G.  Anderson,  second  assistant. 

Oilers.  —  Joseph  Witzel,  C.  Keating,  J.  E.  Born. 

Firemen.  —  Joseph  Fitzgerald,  George  Wiley,  Thomas  Norton,  F. 
Flack,  N.  Carroll. 

Steward^s  Department. —  F.  J.  Leonard,  steward;  Louis  Greaty, 
cook  ;  William  Gardner,  second  cook. 

Waiters.  —  E.  McApee,  Harry  Lepagle,  Thomas  Cronin,  and  a  mess 
boy. 

The  Association  was  most  fortunate  in  the  personnel  of  those  who 
were  selected  for  this  work.  Dr.  Herbert  L.  Burrell,  the  Surgeon 
Superintendent,  from  the  inception  of  the  plan  for  fitting  out  the  ship, 
gave  to  the  matter  his  undivided  attention.  To  his  energy,  foresight, 
and  complete  knowledge  of  every  detail,  is  due,  more  than  to  any  other 
one  man,  the  success  of  the  ship.  The  assistants  of  the  surgeon 
superintendent  were  young,  courageous,  and  energetic  physicians  of 
high  standing.  They  gave  to  this  work  their  enthusiastic  co-operation, 
not  only  in  the  care  of  their  patients  during  the  ship's  service,  but  in 
overseeing  the  work  of  its  preparation  under  the  hands  of  carpenters, 
plumbers,  machinists,  and  electricians.  The  perfection  of  the  details 
of  the  medical  department  of  the  ship  is  due  in  no  small  measure  to 
their  excellent  judgment  and  to  their  generous  expenditure  of  time  and 
energy  during  the  reconstruction  of  the  ship. 

Capt.  Percival  F.  Butman,  the  master  and  navigator  of  the  ship, 
brought  to  his  position  an  extensive  knowledge  of  seamanship  combined 


The  Hospital  Ship  "Bay  State."  75 

with  good  judgment  and  an  affable  disposition.  By  his  ready  co 
operation  in  the  purpose  of  the  hospital  ship  he  contributed  in  no 
small  degree  to  the  splendid  results  attained. 

When  the  Atlantic  Works  Company  was  ready  to  pronounce  its  part 
of  the  work  completed,  the  fruit  steamer  "  Marmion "  was  wholly 
unrecognizable  in  the  new,  spotless  "Bay  State."  From  stem  to  stem 
she  shone  with  cleanliness,  and  every  nook  and  corner  reflected  the 
care  and  attention  which  had  been  lavished  upon  her. 

Every  available  square  foot  was  utilized  for  some  necessary  detail  of 
the  ship's  machinery  or  of  hospital  equipment.  The  whole  ship,  even 
to  the  remotest  corner,  was  lighted  by  incandescent  lamps,  and  every 
portion  of  the  craft  was  insured  excellent  ventilation  by  means  of  a 
specially  devised  system  and  by  electric  fans  conveniently  distributed 
about  the  ship.  The  plant  for  manufacturing  ice  was  the  special  gift 
of  Mrs.  Warren  B.  Potter  of  Boston,  and  rendered  a  service  that  was 
invaluable.  Other  special  gifts  were  :  steam  launch,  Lowell  Branch 
of  the  M.  V.  A.  A. ;  X-ray  apparatus,  Arlington  Branch,  M.  V.  A.  A. ; 
electric  fans,  Lend-a-Hand  Society,  also  from  contributions  made 
through  Mrs.  Nathaniel  Thayer;  steam  fan  exhauster,  Chestnut  Hill 
Branch,  M.  V.  A.  A. ;  surgical  instruments,  Mrs.  Robert  Sturgis ; 
Gegenstrom  hot  water  apparatus,  Springfield  Branch,  M.  V.  A.  A. ; 
table  furnishings,  Natick  Branch,  M.  V.  A.  A.;  furnishings  and 
materials  for  clinical  laboratory,  Springfield  Branch,  M.  V.  A.  A. ; 
laundry  bags,  Ipswich  Branch,  M.  V.  A.  A. ;  curtains  for  stateroom 
windows,  Miss  Alice  S.  Clement;  life  boats  and  life  raft,  Boston 
Humane  Society;  white  rubber  sheets,  Lowell  Branch,  M.  V.  A.  A.; 
cases  for  surgeons'  instruments,  M.  S.  Dillingham  ;  nurses'  aprons,  Miss 
Hayward,  Readville ;  air  mattresses  and  pillows,  Mrs.  Nathaniel  Thayer  ; 
soda  water  apparatus,  Dr.  Gorham  Bacon,  New  York ;  photographic 
material,  Horgan,  Robey  &  Co.,  Boston;  water  filters,  Boston  Water 
Filter  Company ;  hardware,  Dana  Hardware  Company,  Boston ;  chairs, 
E.  J.  Prescott  of  Kennebunk,  Me. ;  ginger  ale,  Otis  S.  Neale  &  Co. ; 
oxygen  in  tanks,  American  Oxygen  Company;  sterilizing  apparatus, 
Milton  Branch,  M.  V.  A.  A.;  water  sterilizer,  ladies  of  Wellesley;  one 
barrel  sulpho-napthol,  Samuel  Cabot;  clinical  thermometers,  The 
Randall- Faichney  Company,  Boston ;  oakum,  Sewell  &  Day  Cordage 


7 6  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

Company ;  hydrogen  dioxide,  Oakland  Chemical  Company,  New  York  ; 
Mellin's  food,  Mellin's  Food  Company,  Boston;  beef  extract  and 
invalid's  food,  John  Wyeth  &  Bro.,  Philadelphia;  cologne,  Jamaica 
ginger,  etc.,  Robert  M.  Burnett;  reagents  and  apparatus  for  water 
analysis,  Dr.  Charles  Harrington,  Boston ;  linen  surgeons'  gowns,  Miss 
Swanton,  Medfield ;  music  box,  Fred  L.  Wheeler;  Red  Cross  flags,  A. 
Shuman  &  Co. 

Messrs.  R.  Brine  &  Company,  teamsters,  gratuitously  transported  the 
immense  amount  of  supplies  from  the  storehouse  of  the  Association  to 
the  ship  when  she  was  preparing  for  her  first  voyage,  and  the  Merchants 
and  Miners  Transportation  Company,  through  Mr.  Ellerton  P.  Whitney, 
offered  the  ship  wharfage  facilities  at  Savannah,  Ga.,  should  she  enter 
that  port. 

The  library  of  two  hundred  and  seventy-two  volumes,  which  were 
selected  and  prepared  in  a  most  thorough  and  painstaking  manner  by 
Librarian  Putnam,  of  the  Boston  Public  Library,  and  his  assistant 
librarian,  was  also  among  the  ship's  special  and  valuable  gifts. 

The  preparation  of  the  ship  was  practically  accomplished  on  Aug.  6, 
and  on  that  day  it  was  officially  inspected  by  Dr.  C.  A.  Siegfried,  U.  S.  N. 
He  had  been  commissioned  by  the  President  to  make  this  inspection 
as  well  as  to  superintend  the  work  on  the  vessel  while  in  progress. 
Dr.  Siegfried  pronounced  everything  about  the  ship  in  a  perfect  condi 
tion,  and  when  he  had  signed  and  delivered  his  official  certificate  as  to 
her  fitness,  the  hospital  ship  "Bay  State"  became  thereby  officially 
authorized  to  sail  under  the  international  Red  Cross  regulations 
and  protection. 

CERTIFICATE  OF  INSPECTION. 

By  virtue  of  the  authority  vested  in  me  by  the  President  of 
the  United  States  of  America,  and  the  Honorable  Secretary  of  the 
Navy,  I  have  the  honor  to  certify  that,  after  due  inspection  and 
full  knowledge,  the  Hospital  and  Ambulance  Ship  "Bay  State/' 
equipped  and  maintained  at  the  expense  of  the  Massachusetts 
Volunteer  Aid  Association,  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  has  ful 
filled  every  requirement  and  obligation  in  her  equipment,  stores, 
and  personnel,  of  the  Geneva  (Red  Cross)  Convention  (Art.  XIII. 


05 

1   3 

-n  Pi 


The  Hospital  Ship   'Bay  Stated  77 

concerning  the  Marine) ;  and  that  she  is  entitled  to  all  the  privi 
leges,  protection,  and  neutrality  accorded  to  hospital  ships  under 
that  international  agreement. 

C.  A.  SIEGFRIED,  Medical  Inspector, 

United  States  Navy. 
BOSTON,  MASS.,  Aug.  6,  1898. 

The  work  of  Dr.  Siegfried  in  connection  with  the  hospital  ship  "  Bay 
State  "  was  most  gratefully  appreciated  by  the  members  of  the  Execu 
tive  Committee.  His  advice  was  always  of  great  value,  and  the  Com 
mittee,  desiring  to  express  its  high  regard  for  his  ability,  and  for  the 
assistance  which  he  rendered  the  Association,  passed  the  following 
resolution,  which  was  sent  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  to  be  filed  in 
the  office  of  the  Navy  Department  at  Washington :  — 

"Resolved,  That  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association, 
through  its  Executive  Committee,  desires  to  express  its  apprecia 
tion  of  the  valuable  services  of  Dr.  C.  A.  Siegfried  in  fitting  out 
the  hospital  ship  'Bay  State.'  His  knowledge  of  details  and 
his  thorough  system  of  investigating  all  questions  concerning  the 
proper  equipment  of  this  hospital  ship  were  of  great  and  indis 
pensably  service  to  this  organization. 

"  The  Executive  Committee  desires  to  express  its  thanks  to  the 
United  States  Navy  Department  for  detailing  such  a  competent 
and  courteous  gentleman  to  assist  it  in  this  work." 

The  finishing  touches  upon  the  ship  having  been  made  by  the 
mechanics  and  painters,  at  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  Saturday, 
Aug.  6,  the  "  Bay  State  "  left  the  Atlantic  Works  wharf,  at  East  Boston, 
in  tow,  and  started  on  her  errand  of  mercy.  As  she  passed  down  the 
harbor,  with  the  emblem  of  her  mission,  the  Red  Cross  flag,  flying 
from  her  foremast,  the  white  standard  of  the  Commonwealth  flying  at 
the  main,  and  Old  Glory  snapping  in  the  breeze  at  the  stern,  with  her 
white  hull  glistening  in  the  bright  sunlight,  and  the  red  band  drawn 
about  her  sides,  typifying  the  work  of  humanity  upon  which  she  was 
engaged,  the  "  Bay  State  "  was  greeted  with  salutes  of  flags  and  whistles 
from  scores  of  crafts  which  bade  her  godspeed. 


7 8  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

She  passed  out  into  the  lower  harbor,  where  she  laid  for  a  shoit  time 
until  the  few  details,  which  it  was  impossible  to  adjust  at  the  wharf, 
had  been  attended  to,  and  then  sailed  for  the  South.  She  first  touched 
at  Port  Antonio,  Jamaica,  on  Monday,  Aug.  15.  Here  Dr.  Burrell 
received  information  as  to  the  place  where  the  services  of  the  ship 
were  most  needed,  and  on  Saturday,  Aug.  20,  she  arrived  at  Santiago. 

At  Santiago  the  "  Bay  State"  took  on  board  one  hundred  and  one 
sick  men  of  the  Second  and  Ninth  Massachusetts  regiments,  and  sailed 
for  Boston,  Thursday,  Aug.  25.  One  of  the  sick  soldiers  died  on  ship 
board  before  the  ship  left  Santiago,  and  his  body  was  taken  ashore  and 
buried  there.  One  other  death  occurred  on  board  the  ship  on  her 
way  North,  and  the  soldier  who  thus  died  was  buried  at  sea.  The 
hospital  ship  arrived  in  Boston  on  Tuesday,  Aug.  30,  and  the  ninety- 
nine  sick  men  were  transferred  to  the  hospitals. 

Preparations  were  at  once  made  for  a  second  trip.  New  supplies 
'were  taken  on  board,  and  the  "  Bay  State  "  sailed  from  Boston  on  her 
second  trip  on  Monday,  Sept.  5.  She  reached  Ponce,  Porto  Rico,  on 
Tuesday,  Sept.  13.  From  Ponce  she  went  along  the  coast  to  Arecibo, 
and  here  she  took  on  board  one  hundred  men  of  the  Sixth  Massachu 
setts  regiment,  who  had  been  brought  down  to  the  coast  from  the 
camp  hospital  of  that  regiment  at  Utuado.  The  ship  sajled  for  home 
on  Wednesday,  Sept.  21,  and  arrived  safely  on  Tuesday,  Sept.  27,  with 
every  man  alive,  and  nearly  every  one  showing  a  marked  improvement, 
owing  to  the  tonic  imparted  by  the  sea  voyage  as  well  as  to  the  excel 
lent  care  bestowed  upon  them  by  the  officers  of  the  ship.  On  this  trip 
Dr.  J.  Booth  Clarkson,  medical  agent  of  the  Association,  was  taken  to 
Porto  Rico,  and,  together  with  two  female  nurses  and  two  male  nurses, 
was  left  at  Arecibo  to  assist  in  taking  care  of  the  sick  soldiers  of  the 
Sixth  Massachusetts. 

While  the  ship  lay  in  the  harbor  of  Ponce,  on  the  i5th  of  September, 
a  fire  broke  out  on  the  schooner  "  Bertram  N.  White,"  which  was  lying 
near  by.  The  officers  and  crew  of  the  "  Bay  State  "  immediately  went 
to  the  rescue,  the  pumps  were  manned,  and  in  a  remarkably  short 
space  of  time,  had  streams  of  water  playing  on  the  burning  vessel,  and 
succeeded  in  extinguishing  the  flames.  The  Boston  agents  of  the 
schooner,  in  acknowledging  the  services  rendered  by  the  "  Bay  State," 
sent  the  following  letter  of  thanks  :  — 


The  Hospital  Ship  "Bay  Stale."  79 

In  behalf  of  the  master  and  owners  of  the  schooner  "  Bertram 
N.  White,"  Messrs.  John  S.  Emery  &  Co.,  agents  of  the  vessel 
in  this  city,  desire  to  tender  thanks  to  Capt.  Percival  F.  Butman, 
First  Officer  William  M.  Swasey,  and  crew  of  the  Massachusetts 
Volunteer  Aid  Association's  steamer  "  Bay  State,"  for  prompt  and 
successful  efforts  in  extinguishing  what  threatened  to  be  a  very 
serious  fire  on  board,  at  Ponce,  Porto  Rico,  early  on  the  morning 
of  the  1 5th  inst. 

BOSTON,  Sept.  28,  1898. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  the  "  Bay  State "  from  her  second  trip,  and 
during  the  preparations  for  the  next  trip  to  Porto  Rico,  there  was 
evinced  a  widespread  desire  on  trie  part  of  the  relatives  and  friends 
of  the  members  of  the  Sixth  Massachusetts  Regiment  located  on  that 
island,  to  send  boxes  of  food,  wearing  apparel,  and  other  remembrances 
from  home  to  the  men  in  the  field.  Notice  was  given  in  the  press 
that  supplies  from  home  would  be  taken'on  the  ship  on  her  third  trip, 
and  that  Dr.  Burrell  would  attend  to  their^distribution  upon  his  arrival 
at  Porto  Rico.  The  response  was  immediate  and  voluminous.  For 
several  days  previous  to  the  sailing  of  the  "  Bay  State,"  the  boxes  of 
good  things  for  the  men  of  the  Sixth  Regiment  arrived  by  the  score. 
Boxes  of  every  conceivable  size  and  shape,  barrels,  and  bundles  were 
sent  to  the  storehouse  and  from  there  were  forwarded  to  the  ship. 
Three  hundred  and  fifty  parcels  were  taken^in  all,  and  the  Association 
received  the  warmest  thanks  for  the  privilege,  from  those  thus  given  an 
opportunity  of  sending  comforts  to  the  soldiers. 

The  "  Bay  State  "  sailed  on  her  third  and  last  trip  on  Wednesday, 
Oct.  5.  A  few  changes  in  the  official  staff  of  the  ship  were  made 
necessary  by  the  inability  of  Dr.  Eugene  A.  Crockett  and  Purser 
William  H.  Seabury  to  go.  Accordingly  the  medical  staff  was  made 
up  as  follows  :  — 

Surgeon  Superintendent       .  .      .         .  DR.  HERBERT  L.  BURRELL. 

2d  Surgeon         .-.         .         .         .  DR.  J.  T.  BOTTOMLY. 

ist  Assistant  Surgeon  and  Purser       .  DR.  T.  J.  MANAHAN. 

2.d  Assistant  Surgeon          .         .         .  DR.  C.  S.  SPAULDING. 

Pathologist DR.  RICHARD  C.  CABOT. 


8o  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

A  change  was  also  made  in  the  engineering  department,  Mr.  J.  Long 
going  as  Chief  Engineer  in  place  of  Mr.  Charles  Lindergren. 

At  the  request  of  Surgeon-General  Sternberg  the  Association  sent  to 
Porto  Rico  on  the  "  Bay  State,"  on  Oct.  5,  six  female  nurses  for  service 
with  the  troops  there.  These  nurses  were  secured  by  Dr.  Bradford 
upon  receipt  of  the  Surgeon-General's  request,  and  contracts  for  their 
services  were  duly  made  out  and  forwarded  to  Washington.  The 
nurses  who  went  were  :  Mary  B.  Hall,  Mary  C.  Stewart,  Ella  A.  Stark 
weather,  Mary  A.  Gallagher,  of  Boston ;  Miss  J.  H.  Fisher,  of  Water- 
town  ;  Julia  A.  C.  Jackson,  of  Lowell. 

The  ship  sailed  from  Guinica,  Porto  Rico,  on  her  homeward  journey 
on  Saturday,  Oct.  22.  She  took  on  board  one  hundred  and  fifteen 
men  belonging  to  the  Sixth  Massachusetts  Regiment,  nineteen  men  of 
the  First  Regiment  United  States  Volunteer  Engineers,  and  one  private 
belonging  to  the  Fifth  United  States  Artillery,  a  total  of  one  hundred 
and  thirty-five  men.  Two  men  belonging  to  the  Sixth  Regiment  died 
on  the  trip,  one  being  buried  at  sea  and  the  remains  of  the  other  being 
brought  home  to  Massachusetts.  Boston  was  reached  on  Friday,  Oct. 
28,  and  the  sick  men  were  sent  to  the  hospitals  or  furloughed  to  their 
homes. 

After  the  "  Bay  State  "  had  returned  from  her  third  trip  to  the  West 
Indies,  in  the  light  of  the  fact  that  the  war  was  ended,  and  that  nearly 
every  one  of  the  Massachusetts  soldiers  had  been  brought  back  to  the 
United  States  from  Cuba  and  Porto  Rico,  the  Committee  decided  that 
the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association  had  no  further  need  for  a 
hospital  ship. 

Early  in  October  it  was  voted  to  ascertain  if  the  United  States 
Government  would  purchase  the  ship.  On  Oct.  1 1  a  committee,  con 
sisting  of  the  Chairman,  Mr.  Eben  S.  Draper,  the  Secretary,  Mr.  Elihu 
B.  Hayes,  and  Mr.  James  T.  Boyd,  Consulting  Engineer  of  the  Atlantic 
Works,  was  sent  to  Washington  to  consult  with  the  officials  of  the 
Government  regarding  the  sale  of  the  "  Bay  State." 

On  Oct.  13  this  committee  had  an  interview  with-  Secretary  of  War 
Alger  and  Surgeon-General  Sternberg  of  the  War  Department.  To 
these  officials  the  ship  was  offered  for  sale,  and  the  proposition  was 
received  with  favor  and  with  assurances  of  the  appreciation  on  the  part 


The  Hospital  Ship  "Bay  State"  81 

of  the  authorities  of  the  assistance  which  had  been  rendered  by  the 
Association  during  the  war  with  Spain.  A  price  for  the  ship  was  set  at 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  the  cost  of  ship  and  fitting  being  one 
hundred  and  seventy-five  thousand  dollars,  and  Secretary  Alger 
expressed  his  deep  sense  of  appreciation  of  the  action  of  the  Associa 
tion  in  offering  the  ship  at  such  a  low  price  to  the  Government. 

Two  expert  engineers,  representing  the  War  Department,  Mr.  George 
Clark  and  Mr.  Frank  E.  Kirby,  were  detailed  to  make  an  -  official 
inspection  of  the  ship.  Upon  receipt  of  their  report  the  offer  of  the 
Association  was  accepted  by  the  War  Department,  and  on  Nov.  1 1  the 
transaction  was  consummated,  the  legal  papers  of  transfer  passed,  and 
the  ship  became  the  property  of  the  United  States  Government.  In 
the  transfer  of  the  ship  to  the  Government  the  Treasurer  of  the  Asso 
ciation,  Mr.  Henry  L.  Higginson,  acted  as  the  Trustee  of  the  Associa 
tion.  He  received  from  the  Commonwealth,  in  whose  name  the  title 
of  the  ship  rested,  a  legal  transfer  in  behalf  of  the  Association,  and  then 
in  turn  transferred  the  title  to  the  Government.  The  Association 
returned  to  the  Commonwealth  the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  which 
had  been  advanced  as  the  purchase  price  of  the  ship  in  June,  and  the 
balance  of  the  selling  price  to  the  Government  ($50,000)  was  turned 
into  the  treasury  of  the  Association. 


CARE    OF    RETURNING    SICK   SOLDIERS. 


THE  State  of  Massachusetts  loyally  sent  her  brave  sons  at  the  call  of 
the  President  to  uphold  the  honor  of  the  country,  and  then,  when  her 
soldiers  had  performed  their  duty  and  were  sent  home  wounded  and 
sick,  she  welcomed  them  with  tender  solicitude,  and  through  the 
agency  of  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association  ministered 
to  their  wants. 

Into  every  camp  and  into  every  hospital  where  soldiers  were  located, 
in  all  parts  of  the  country,  the  Association  went  in  search  of  the  boys 
belonging  to  Massachusetts,  and,  whenever  their  physical  condition 
warranted  it,  assisted  them  to  return  home  that  they  might  regain 
their  health  amid  familiar  scenes  and  among  friends  and  relatives. 

The  preparations  for  receiving  the  returning  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers  were  made  in  June,  before  the  actual  fighting  had  begun. 
The  officers  of  the  Association  realized  the  coming  need  of  hospital 
accommodations  for  the  returning  men,  and  Dr.  Edward  H.  Bradford 
of  Boston  zealously  undertook  the  work  of  ascertaining  the  number  of 
men  who  could  be  received  into  the  hospitals  in  and  about  Boston,  as 
well  as  in  the  cities  and  larger  towns  throughout  the  State.  To  the 
thoroughness  of  Dr.  Bradford's  preparations  is  due  the  great  success 
which  attended  this  work. 

Statements  were  secured  from  all  the  hospitals  showing  their  capacity 
and  the  number  of  cases  they  each  could  receive  upon  a  few  hours' 
notice.  With  this  information  in  hand,  Dr.  Bradford  was  enabled  to 
tell  at  a  glance  just  where  the  sick  soldiers  could  be  taken  care  of  and 
how  many  he  could  send  to  each  hospital. 

The  first  to  come  home  arrived  on  Aug.  4,  and  consisted  of  nine 
men,  most  of  whom  were  members  of  the  Second  Massachusetts  Regi 
ment.  These  men  had  seen  service  in  Cuba,  and  almost  every  one 
had  been  wounded  in  the  battle  of  July  i .  They  had  been  sent  to 


Care  of  Returning  Sick  Soldiers.  83 

the  hospital  at  Fort  Monroe,  Va.,  and  it  was  here  that  they  were  looked 
up  by  Hon.  Sherman  Hoar,  who  arranged  for  their  furloughs  and  tele 
graphed  the  Association  to  secure  their  transportation  to  Boston.  The 
matter  was  attended  to  promptly.  They  were  given  transportation 
through  the  kindness  of  the  Merchants  and  Miners  Transportation 
Company  on  one  of  their  steamships,  and  arrived  in  Providence  on 
Aug.  4.  Here  they  were  met  by  the  Assistant  Secretary,  Mr.  E.  C. 
Mansfield,  who  gave  them  a  breakfast  at  the  Narragansett  Hotel,  and 
then  sent  them  to  their  homes  by  train. 

The  second  detail  of  men  came  a  week  later.  They  came  home  as 
did  the  first  by  the  Merchants  and  Miners  line  of  steamers,  were  met 
at  Providence,  R.  I.,  by  Mr.  Mansfield,  and  were  given  transportation 
to  their  homes.  Fifteen  men  of  the  Second  and  Ninth  Massachusetts 
regiments  composed  this  party,  and  while  some  of  them  were  still 
extremely  weak,  the  larger  number  were  rapidly  recovering  from  the 
effects  of  their  wounds  and  sickness. 

On  Aug.  23  the  United  States  hospital  ship  "  Olivette  "  arrived  in 
Boston  with  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  men.  The  "Olivette"  had 
been  sent  home  from  Santiago  on  Aug.  15  with  sick  men  from  the 
division  hospitals  who  were  too  sick  to  return  with  their  respective 
regiments. 

The  ship  stopped  at  Hampton  Roads,  and  finding  the  hospitals  at 
Fort  Monroe  over-crowded,  continued  on  to  Montauk  Point.  Here 
the  same  conditions  prevailed,  and  the  Surgeon-General  of  the  army 
telegraphed  to  the  Association  asking  if  the  men  on  board  could  be 
taken  care  of  in  Boston  hospitals.  An  affirmative  reply  was  at  once 
sent  him  and  the  ship  came  to  Boston. 

Upon  her  arrival  the  ambulances  of  the  various  hospitals,  together 
with  those  belonging  to  the  Police  Department,  were  called  into  requi 
sition,  and  were  on  hand  upon  the  arrival  of  the  ship  at  Lewis  Wharf. 
A  detail  of  police  of  the  city  of  Boston  kept  at  a  distance  the  large 
number  of  interested  persons  who  were  attracted  to  the  wharf  by  the 
arrival  of  the  sick  soldiers,  and  gave  ample  room  for  the  careful 
handling  of  the  men.  A  detail  from  the  Ambulance  Corps,  M.  V.  M., 
reported  for  duty  under  command  of  Sergt.  Gibson,  and  rendered 
effective  service  in  aiding  the  weak  men  to  disembark  as  well  as  in 
bearing  the  litters  upon  which  lay  those  too  ill  to  walk. 


84  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

The  disembarkation  of  the  sick  soldiers  was  accomplished  without 
friction  and  with  despatch.  Dr.  Bradford  was  in  charge  of  the  work 
and  he  had  as  assistants  Drs.  F.  S.  Balch,  J.  Babst  Blake,  and  Paul 
Thorndike.  As  fast  as  the  men  came  ashore,  a  ticket  was  placed  in 
each  one's  hand,  giving  a  number  and  the  name  of  the  hospital  to 
which  they  were  to  go.  They  were  then  placed  in  the  ambulances  or 
given  seats  in  the  coaches  provided  for  those  who  were  able  to  sit  up, 
and  were  driven  to  the  hospital  to  which  they  had  been  assigned. 

The  landing  of  the  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  soldiers  was  accom 
plished  without  confusion,  and  they  were  given  every  attention  and 
care  by  the  representatives  of  the  Association.  The  men  landed  from 
the  "  Olivette "  belonged  to  many  different  regiments,  some  being 
members  of  Massachusetts  regiments,  others  coming  from  regiments  of 
volunteers  in  various  States,  and  mingled  with  these  were  regulars 
belonging  to  the  standing  army  of  the  United  States.  Massachusetts 
greeted  each  and  every  one  and  gave  to  them  all  a  warm  welcome  and 
tender  care. 

The  hospital  ship  "  Bay  State  "  arrived  in  Boston  from  her  first  trip 
from  Santiago  Aug.  30.  Her  departure  from  Santiago  had  been  cabled, 
and  accordingly  her  arrival  was  looked  for  within  a  certain  time.  As 
soon  as  the  ship  arrived  at  the  Quarantine  Station  in  Boston  Harbor, 
the  hospitals  were  notified,  the  ambulances  and  carriages  ordered  to 
report,  and  everything  was  made  ready  for  the  reception  of  the  sick 
soldiers  who  were  on  board. 

The  ship  was  given  a  berth  at  Lewis  Wharf,  and  the  landing  of  the 
sick  men  was  immediately  begun.  The  same  system  as  that  used  upon 
the  arrival  of  the  "  Olivette  "  was  used,  and  again  proved  most  suc 
cessful.  A  limited  number  of  the  relatives  of  those  who  were  coming 
home  on  the  ship  were  permitted  within  the  limits  of  the  wharf,  but 
even  these  anxious  relatives  were  obliged  to  refrain  from  crowding  the 
physicians  and  others  engaged  in  the  landing  of  the  men.  The  Ambu 
lance  Corps  was  again  of  great  assistance,  and  a  large  detail  of  police 
rendered  effective  service  in  the  process  of  landing  the  soldiers.  The 
"  Bay  State  "  brought  home  on  this  trip  ninety-nine  sick  men  belonging 
to  the  Second  and  Ninth  Massachusetts  volunteer  regiments. 

Early  in  September  a  large  number  of  Massachusetts  soldiers,  prin- 


Care  of  Returning  Sick  Soldiers.  85 

cipally  of  the  Ninth  Regiment,  were  confined  in  the  over-crowded 
hospital  at  Montauk  Point,  and  the  Association  decided  that  some 
thing  should  be  done  to  bring  them  to  Boston,  where  they  could  receive 
medical  care  in  the  hospitals  of  the  city.  Accordingly,  the  steamer 
"  Lewiston,"  a  side-wheel  vessel  of  ample  accommodations,  was  engaged 
to  go  to  Montauk  Point,  take  on  board  the  sick  men,  and  bring  them 
to  Boston.  Dr.  Thomas  B.  Shea,  chief  medical  officer  of  the  Board  of 
Health  of  the  city  of  Boston,  was  given  charge  of  the  undertaking,  and 
he  selected  a  number  of  physicians  and  nurses  to  accompany  him  as 
assistants.  A  detail  of  twenty  men  of  the  Ambulance  Corps,  M.  V.  M., 
under  the  command  of  Capt.  Myles  Standish,  ten  of  them  from  Lowell 
and  ten  from  Boston,  went  with  the  vessel  to  move  the  sick  soldiers, 
and  a  number  of  cooks,  waiters,  and  other  help  were  secured. 

The  steamer  was  plentifully  stocked  with  supplies  necessary  for  the 
use  of  the  men  on  the  return  trip,  and',  on  Saturday,  Sept.  3,  she  sailed 
from  Boston  for  Montauk  Point.  Previous  to  engaging  the  vessel, 
Mr.  Robert  M.  Burnett,  who  acted  for  the  Association  in  the  negotia 
tions  regarding  her,  caused  an  inspection  to  be  made  of  her  by  the 
United  States  inspectors,  and  she  was  pronounced  seaworthy  and  in 
excellent  condition. 

The  "  Lewiston  "  was  commanded  by  Capt.  Lyman,  and  in  order 
that  there  might  be  no  uncertainty  in  regard  to  the  navigation  of  the 
vessel  along  the  coast,  a  pilot  was  also  engaged.  Every  precaution 
was  taken  by  the  Association  to  render  the  trip  a  safe  and  successful 
one. 

The  "  Lewiston  "  made  a  rapid  and  uneventful  trip  to  Camp  Wikoff, 
arriving  there  Sunday  afternoon.  Dr.  Shea  at  once  reported  to  Gen. 
Wheeler,  the  commander  of  the  camp,  stating  that  he  had  come  to 
take  as  many  of  the  sick  Massachusetts  men  as  the  boat  could  accom 
modate.  Gen.  Wheeler  immediately  gave  him  a  letter  to  Col.  For- 
wood,  the  surgeon  in  charge  of  the  hospitals,  and  a  tour  was  made 
through  the  camp  with  a  view  of  selecting  the  sick  soldiers  of  the 
Ninth  Regiment  who  would  be  able  to  stand  the  trip,  and  have  a  fair 
chance  of  recovery  after  their  arrival  in  Boston.  One  hundred  and 
thirteen  sick  soldiers  were  selected,  and  with  the  assistance  of  the  men 
of  the  Ambulance. Corps  and  others  at  the  camp,  they  were  taken  over 


86  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association.' 

the  road,  a  distance  of  two  miles,  to  the  pier,  and  then  placed  on  board 
the  boat.  A  large  number  of  cots  and  mattresses  were  ready  for  the 
men  in  the  cabin  of  the  boat,  while  others  were  carried  into  the  state 
rooms,  and  made  comfortable  there 

All  were  aboard  by  Monday  morning,  and  about  ten  o'clock  the 
"Lewiston"  started  on  her  homeward  journey.  As  there  was  little 
opportunity  of  obtaining  good  water  and  milk  at  Montauk,  the  "  Lew 
iston  "  put  into  New  London  for  these  supplies,  which  were  secured, 
and  then  the  start  was  made  for  Boston  at  nearly  five  o'clock,  p.  M. 

Soon  after  she  left  New  London,  the  vessel  ran  into  a  thick  fog, 
which  made  it  necessary  to  proceed  slowly  and  cautiously.  At  a  slow 
rate  of  speed  she  steamed  along  the  Rhode  Island  shore,  blowing  her 
whistle  and  listening  for  signals  at  Watch  Hill  and  Point  Judith.  Watch 
Hill  was  passed  safely,  and  the  pilot  shaped  his  course  to  clear,  as  he 
supposed,  the  well-known  headland  of  Point  Judith.  About  7.50 
o'clock,  the  lookout  suddenly  reported  a  white  light  off  the  port  bow, 
the  next  instant  he  saw  a  red  light  on  the  starboard  bow,  and  then, 
right  ahead,  he  saw  the  breakers.  Before  those  on  board  were  able  to 
realize  their  situation,  the  steamer  crashed  into  the  outer  part  of  the 
breakwater  which  had  recently  been  built  off  Point  Judith.  This  break-, 
water  is  made  up  of  massive  blocks  of  rocks,  lightered  to  the  spot,  and 
dumped'upon  the  long  reef  with  their  jagged  points  well  out  of  water. 

The  "  Lewiston  "  struck  the  breakwater  head  on,  and  stove  a  large 
hole  in  her  bow.  The  shock  of  the  collision  shook  the  vessel  from 
stem  to  stern,  and  for  a  moment  all  was  confusion  and  uncertainty  on 
board.  Dr.  Shea,  however,  proved  equal  to  the  emergency.  Assisted 
by  his  physicians  and  two  newspaper  correspondents,  representing  the 
Boston  Herald  and  Globe,  who  were  on  board,  he  quickly  went  the 
rounds  among  the  sick  men  and  reassured  them  as  to  their  safety. 
This  done,  it  was  next  in  order  to  ascertain  the  extent  of  the  injuries 
to  the  vessel.  Men  were  lowered  over  the  bow  upon  the  breakwater, 
and,  after  their  examination,  it  was  decided  that  it  would  be  impossible 
to  get  the  vessel  off  the  rocks  safely.  Hawsers  were  run  out  from  the 
stern  on  each  side,  and  the  vessel  firmly  tied  up  to  the  breakwater  so 
that  she  could  not  swing  about.  In  the  meantime,  signals  for  assist 
ance  were  given,  and  soon  help  arrived.  John  W.%Dale,  the  Govern- 


Care  of  Returning  Sick  Soldiers.  87 

ment  Inspector  of  the  breakwater,  heard  the  signals  of  distress,  and  at 
once  ordered  the  tug  under  his  charge  to  the  scene.  Within  a  remark 
ably  short  space  of  time  the  tug  had  gotten  under  way,  and  had  run 
down  to  the  wreck.  A  powerful  searchlight  which  the  tug  carried  was 
turned  on  the  wrecked  vessel,  and  her  precarious  position  at  once 
disclosed. 

In  consultation  with  Dr.  Shea,  it  was  decided  to  convey  the  sick 
men  by  lighter  to  Newport,  and  then  to  carry  them  to  Boston  by  train. 
Accordingly  a  lighter  used  in  the  building  of  the  breakwater  was 
brought  near  the  vessel  and,  after  mattresses  and  blankets  had  been 
placed  on  board,  the  transferring  of  the  men  from  the  Lewiston  began. 
By  Dr.  Shea's  orders,  a  large  hole  had  been  cut  in  the  bow  of  the 
steamer  for  the  purpose  of  handing  the  men  out  in  the  easiest  possible 
manner.  From  this  aperture  gang  planks  were  run  out,  and  in  this  way 
the  inconvenience  and  discomfort  of  bringing  the  men  on  deck  and 
then  lowering  them  over  the  bow  was  avoided. 

As  soon  as  it  was  decided  to  send  the  men  to  Newport  it  became  neces 
sary  to  notify  the  railroad  company  to  have  cars  in  readiness,  to  secure 
the  police  ambulances  at  Newport,  and  to  notify  the  hospitals  and  the 
officers  of  the  Association  at  Boston.  Two  newspaper  correspondents, 
Mr.  Julian  C.  Edgerly,  of  the  Boston  Herald,  and  Mr.  Winfield  M. 
Thompson,  of  the  Boston  Globe,  gladly  volunteered  to  attend  to  this 
work.  They  secured  a  row  boat  and  went  ashore,  engaged  a  team 
which  conveyed  them  to  Narragansett  Pier,  and  from  there  telegraphed 
the  information  of  the  wreck  to  the  various  points  it  was  desired  to 
reach.  By  ten  o'clock  every  man  had  been  transferred  to  the  lighter, 
placed  on  mattresses,  and  covered  with  blankets.  The  men  bore  the 
whole  heroically ;  not  a  man  complained,  while  some  even  laughed  and 
joked  to  keep  up  the  spirits  of  their  comrades. 

The  run  to  Newport  was  soon  accomplished,  and  just  at  midnight 
the  tug  and  the  lighter,  with  its  precious  load  of  sick  men,  were  brought 
up  to  the  pier  of  the  Fall  River  line.  An  hour  after  the  arrival  of  the 
men  at  Newport  they  were  placed  on  board  a  special  train,  and  at 
quarter  to  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Sept.  6  the  train  started  for 
Boston.  At  half  past  five  o'clock  the  Park  Square  station  was  reached, 
and  here  the  train  was  met  by  Dr.  Bradford,  a  corps  of  physicians,  and 


88  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

a  score  of  ambulances  which  quickly  conveyed  the  men  to  the  various 
hospitals.  None  of  the  sick  men  showed  any  serious  results  from  the 
exposure  and  excitement  of  the  night,  although  there  were  a  number 
whose  condition  was  very  serious. 

The  part  which  Dr.  Shea  performed  in  this  matter  from  the  departure 
of  the  "  Lewiston  "  from  Boston,  to  the  safe  arrival  of  the  sick  soldiers 
at  the  Boston  hospitals,  was  that  of  a  brave,  self-possessed,  and  resource 
ful  man.  He  fulfilled  his  duties  towards  the  sick  men  who  had  been 
given  into  his  charge,  and^who  were  lying  helpless  in  the  cabins  of  the 
vessel,  with  a  determination  and  zeal  which  made  him  absolute  master 
of  the  situation.  Dr.  Bradford  recognized  his  bravery  in  the  follow 
ing  letter  addressed  to  Mayor  Quincy  :  — 

BOSTON,  Sept.  7,  1898. 
HON.  JOSIAH  QUINCY,  MAYOR  OF  BOSTON  : 

My  dear  Mr.  Quincy,  —  You  may  be  interested  in  hearing  of 
the  excellent  conduct  of  Dr.  Shea  of  the  Board  of  Health,  who 
volunteered  to  take  charge  of  the  relief  ship,  "  Lewiston,"  which 
the  Volunteer  Aid  Association  despatched  to  Montauk  to  bring  off 
the  soldiers  of  the  Ninth  Regiment. 

Not  only  did  he  show  great  promptness  and  energy  in  securing 
the  patients  and  in  having  them  brought  properly  on  the  ship,  but 
at  the  time  of  the  accident  to  the  steamship,  as  I  have  learned 
from  others  than  Dr.  Shea  (who  would  be  too  modest  to  tell  the 
story  himself),  he  took  command  of  the  situation,  compelled  the 
crew  to  behave  as  they  should,  landed  the  soldiers  on  a  lighter, 
and  ordered  a  special  train,  and  by  careful  management  brought 
his  sick  soldiers  to  town,  delivering  them  in  time  for  their  break 
fast,  six  hours  ahead  of  the  time  they  were  expected. 

I  do  not  know  that  we  of  the  Association  can  ever  thank  him 
for  what  he  has  done ;  but  he  deserves   the  gratitude  of  all  the 
citizens  of  Boston  as  well  as  of  the  State. 
Yours  very  truly, 

E.  H.  BRADFORD. 

The  detail  from  the  Ambulance  Corps,  M.  V.  M  ,  under  the  com 
mand  of  Dr.  Myles  Standish,  performed  their  duties  in  a  manner  which 


o 


I 

CD  50 
J>  m 
CD  m 
CO 

-H 


CO 

I  DO 

m 

CD  50 
J>  H 
00  x 


Care  oj  Returning  Sick  Soldiers.  89 

left  nothing  to  be  desired.  In  the  face  of  unknown  dangers  these  men 
worked  courageously  and  continuously  in  carrying  the  sick  soldiers 
from  the  wrecked  vessel,  and  had  it  not  been  for  their  presence  on 
board  and  their  expert  knowledge  in  the  handling  of  sick  men,  the 
task  of  getting  the  men  away  would  have  been  so  prolonged  as  to  have 
intensified  the  dangers  of  the  situation  an  hundredfold. 

The  crowded  condition  of  the  hospitals  at  Montauk  Point  during  the 
early  part  of  September  made  it  necessary  for  the  officials  in  charge  to 
take  some  action  regarding  the  transfer  of  a  large  number  of  the  sick 
soldiers  to  hospitals  in  neighboring  cities  and  thus  give  room  for  the 
constantly  increasing  number  of  arrivals  from  Cuba.  Inquiries  were 
made  by  the  medical  officers  at  Camp  Wikoff  as  to  the  accommoda 
tions  which  could  be  afforded  by  the  hospitals  in  Boston.  Assurances 
were  given  that  several  hundred  more  patients  could  be  accommodated 
in  this  city,  a  much  larger  number  than  had  already  been  placed  here 
by  the  Association. 

The  surgeons  in  charge  at  Montauk  were  asked  by  the  Association 
to  send,  if  possible,  all  the  Massachusetts  men  who  were  able  to  travel 
so  that  they  might  be  taken  care  of  in  hospitals  near  their  homes. 

Upon  the  receipt  of  the  information  asked  for,  the  officials  at 
Montauk  sent  the  hospital  ship  "Relief"  to  Boston  with  two  hundred 
and  forty-seven  sick  soldiers  on  board.  The  "  Relief "  reached  Boston 
on  Sept.  13,  and  the  Association  was  prepared  to  attend  to  the -landing 
of  the  men  in  the  same  careful  and  systematic  manner  which  had 
characterized  the  disembarkation  of  the  men  from  the  "Bay  State" 
and  the  "  Olivette."  Unfortunately  the  ship  came  up  to  the  wharf 
without  waiting  at  quarantine  until  arrangements  could  be  perfected 
for  taking  care  of  the  sick  men.  This  caused  a  delay  before  the 
ambulances,  the  police,  and  the  carriages  necessary  to  effect  a  care 
ful  distribution  of  the  men  among  the  hospitals  could  be  gathered 
together  at  the  wharf.  Finally,  however,  the  landing  was  effected  and 
the  men  were  taken  care  of  in  the  Boston  hospitals. 

It  was  hoped  that  the  "  Relief "  would  bring  to  Boston  a  large  num 
ber  of  the  members  of  the  Ninth  Regiment  who  were  sick  at  Montauk, 
but  out  of  the  two  hundred  and  forty-seven  sick  men  landed  only  seven 
belonged  to  Massachusetts  regiments. 


90  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

On  Sept.  14,  fifteen  men  belonging  to  the  Ninth  Massachusetts  Regi 
ment,  who  had  been  left  at  Montauk  Point  with  others  too  ill  to  be 
moved  before,  were  brought  home  to  Boston  via  New  London.  They 
left  Camp  Wikoff  late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  day  before  in  the  hospital 
ambulance  steamboat  "  Shinnecock,"  and  arrived  in  New  London  in 
the  evening.  Here  a  special  sleeping  car,  which  had  been  sent  to  that 
city  from  Boston,  was  in  waiting  in  charge  of  Mr.  Mansfield.  The  men 
were  quickly  put  on  board  the  car,  were  given  suitable  food,  and  the 
car  was  attached  to  the  New  York  express  arriving  in  Boston  at  seven 
the  next  morning.  Upon  their  arrival  at  the  Park  Square  station,  the 
men  were  placed  in  ambulances  and  carriages  and  conveyed  to  the 
hospital.  As  the  train  to  which  the  special  car  was  attached  arrived  at 
Providence,  representatives  of  the  Providence  Soldiers'  Aid  Society  dis 
tributed  hot  coffee,  milk,  and  nourishing  food  among  the  sick  soldiers. 
This  work  was  performed  under  the  direction  of  a  medical  officer 
representing  the  society,  and  was  a  most  welcome  and  highly  appre 
ciated  service. 

On  Sept.  1 6  and  Sept.  20,  two  other  parties  of  sick  soldiers  were 
brought  from  Camp  Wikoff  by  the  Association  to  Boston  hospitals. 
The  first  lot  consisted  of  fifteen  and  the  second  of  twelve  men.  Both 
of  these  parties  were  in  the  charge  of  Dr.  C.  J.  Fitzgerald,  a  young 
Boston  physician  who  had  been  engaged  in  the  work  at  Montauk  Point 
for  some  weeks.  Dr.  Fitzgerald  gave  unremitting  care  and  attention 
to  the  men  placed  in  his  charge,  and  brought  them  through  to  Boston 
in  a  most  satisfactory  condition. 

There  were  brought  home  on  Sept.  15  from  the  General  Hospital  at 
Chickamauga  Park,  nineteen  sick  men  of  the  Eighth  Massachusetts 
Regiment.  It  was  learned  that  nearly  forty  men  of  this  regiment  were 
at  that  hospital,  and  that  it  would  be  possible  for  them  to  travel  if 
they  could  be  assured  of  medical  care  and  attention  on  their  homeward 
journey. 

Accordingly  Dr.  J.  Babst  Blake  of  Boston  was  asked  to  go  to 
Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  arrange  for  the  transportation  of  the  men,  and 
bring  them  home  to  Massachusetts.  Dr.  Blake  started  on  Saturday, 
Sept.  10,  and  was  accompanied  by  Drs.  George  F.  Mclntire  and  H  J. 
Perry.  He  arrived  in  the  camp  on  the  following  Monday,  and  after 


Care  of  Returning  Sick  Soldiers.  91 

considerable  difficulty  secured  furloughs  for  eighteen  Massachusetts 
men,  placed  them  on  board  a  special  sleeping  car,  and  brought  them  to 
Boston,  arriving  on  the  evening  of  the  i5th.  One  other  soldier  who 
was  picked  up  at  one  of  the  stopping  places  of  the  train  was  also 
brought  home  to  Massachusetts. 

Dr.  Blake  and  his  assistants  gave  every  possible  attention  to  the  men, 
and  performed  the  work  given  them  to  do  in  a  most  commendatory 
manner.  So  constant  were  the  demands  made  upon  the  physicians  by 
the  sick  soldiers  that  little  sleep  was  obtained  by  them  from  the  time 
they  left  Chattanooga  until  they  arrived  in  Boston.  They  attended  to 
the  wants  of  the  men  faithfully  and  conscientiously  at  a  sacrifice  of  their 
own  personal  comfort,  and  brought  them  home  with  no  visible  ill  effects 
from  the  journey.  As  soon  as  the  train  arrived  in  Boston  the  men  were 
removed  to  the  hospitals  in  the  ambulances  and  carriages  which  were 
in  waiting. 

Eleven  sick  soldiers  belonging  to  the  Sixth  Massachusetts  Regiment 
came  to  Boston  on  Sunday,  Oct.  16,  on  board  the  Merchants  and 
Miners  Transportation  Company's  steamship  "  Fairfax."  They  came 
in  charge  of  Mr.  John  T.  Burke  of  Fitchburg,  from  the  Josiah  Simpson 
Hospital  at  Newport  News,  Va.,  and  when  they  arrived  were  met  at  the 
wharf  in  Boston  by  representatives  of  the  Association,  who  supplied  the 
men  with  overcoats,  furnished  by  Adjt.-Gen.  Dalton,  and  gave  them 
transportation  to  the  railroad  station. 

On  Tuesday,  Sept.  27,  the  hospital  ship  "Bay  State"  arrived  in 
Boston  with  one  hundred  men  belonging  to  the  Sixth  Regiment  from 
Porto  Rico.  They  were  safely  landed  and  sent  to  the  hospitals. 

On  Friday,  Oct.  28,  the  "Bay  State"  arrived  in  Boston,  after  mak 
ing  her  third  and  last  voyage  to  the  West  Indies.  She  brought  back 
one  hundred  and  nineteen  soldiers  of  the  Sixth  Massachusetts,  nineteen 
of  the  First  Regiment  Volunteer  Engineers,  and  one  regular,  or  one 
hundred  and  thirty-three  in  all.  A  number  of  these  men  were  on  fur 
lough  and  were  able  to  travel  to  their  homes.  They  were  permitted  to 
do  so,  and  in  some  cases  assistance  was  given  in  order  that  they  might 
be  able  to  obtain  transportation. 

A  card  index  was  prepared,  containing  cards  upon  which  were 
entered  the  name,  company,  regiment,  rank  of  the  soldier  who  had 


92  Massachusetts    Volunteir  Aid  Association. 

been  brought  to  Massachusetts  through  the  assistance  of  the  Massa 
chusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association,  together  with  the  route  by  which 
he  came,  whether  by  rail  or  by  sea,  the  date  of  his  arrival  in  Boston, 
the  name  of  the  hospital  to  which  he  was  sent,  the  date  of  discharge 
from  the  hospital,  and  his  home  address  when  known.  These  records 
have  been  carefully  compiled  and  present  a  complete  history  of  each 
man's  reception  in  Boston,  the  length  of  his  stay  in  the  hospital,  and 
other  facts.  The  index  will  be  a  valuable  record  for  reference  in  the 
future. 

In  addition  to  this  Mr.  Edward  F.  McSweeney,  the  agent  of  the 
Association  at  New  York  City,  compiled  the  records  of  every  Massa 
chusetts  man  who  came  under  his  notice,  or  who  was  confined  in  the 
hospitals  of  New  York  or  Brooklyn  during  and  after  the  war. 

Mr.  McSweeney  rendered  splendid  service  to  the  sick  soldiers  who 
passed  through  that  city.  He  not  only  furnished  information  regarding 
the  condition  of  sick  soldiers  who  were  confined  in  hospitals  in  New 
York  and  Brooklyn,  but  he  was  frequently  called  upon  to  ship  home  the 
bodies  of  deceased  soldiers,  as  well  as  to  relieve  the  wants  of  hundreds 
of  Massachusetts  soldiers  who  found  themselves  without  money  or 
friends. 

Briefly  summarized,  the  number  of   sick   soldiers  received   by  the 
Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association  appear  as  follows  :  — 
Aug.     4.     From  Fort  Monroe  via  Providence,  R.  I.    .     .  9  men 

••  I    I  <l  ll  "  "  "  <(  I  r         (( 

"      23.  Brought  by  the  steamship  "  Olivette  "   ....  165  u 

"      30.  "         "     "    "  Bay  State,"  first  trip    ....  99  " 

Sept.    6.  "        on  steamer  "  Levviston  "  from  Montauk, 

via  Newport,  R.  1 113  " 

"      13.  "        by  the  hospital  ship  "  Relief ".     ...  247  " 

"      14.  "       from  Montauk,  via  New  London   ...  IT" 

"      16.  "                        "           "    New  London  ...  15  " 

<(          2/-v  *      l<  "  "  "  ft  f<  T2         <l 

"      25.  "  "     Chickamauga  Park 19     " 

"      27.           "       by  "Bay  State,"  second  trip     .     .     .     .     100     " 
Oct.    28.  "         "        "         "         third  trip 133" 

Total 938     " 


Care  of  Returning  Sick  Soldiers.  .   93 

This  does  not  include  a  large  number  of  soldiers  who  were  cared  for 
after  their  arrival  in  Boston,  and  who  came  to  this  city  as  individuals. 

The  association  was  fortunate  in  having  as  agents  at  the  places  where 
the  sick  soldiers  from  Massachusetts  were  located  in  hospitals,  gentle 
men  who  gave  unstintingly  of  their  time  and  energy,  not  only  to  give 
every  possible  attention  to  the  men  themselves  but  to  keep  the  rela 
tives  informed  as  to  their  condition.  At  Fort  Meyer,  Virginia,  Dr.  J. 
J.  Curry,  assistant  surgeon  in  charge  of  the  U.  S.  Hospital,  was  unre 
mitting  in  his  care  of  men  coming  under  his  charge.  At  Fort  Monroe, 
Virginia,  Dr  S  P.  Cottrell  acted  in  a  similar  capacity  and  rendered 
splendid  service.  Mr.  H.  R.  Jackson,  agent  of  the  Clyde  Line  Steam 
ship  Company,  at  Charleston,  S.  C.,  and  Mr.  J.  Dana  Cloudman  at 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  were  frequently  called  upon  to  assist  Massachusetts 
men,  and  did  so  gladly  and  unhesitatingly. 

Dr.  R.  B.  Greenough  of  Boston  made  a  visit  of  inspection  and 
investigation  to  the  Camp  at  Chickamauga  Park,  and  his  report  of  the 
condition  of  the  Massachusetts  soldiers  he  found  in  hospital  there  and 
at  other  camps  was  of  much  value  to  the  committee. 

It  was  thought  that  a  temporary  home  for  the  convalescent  soldiers 
would  have  to  be  provided,  and  a  request  was  published  in  the  press, 
asking  that  those  who  had  suitable  accommodations  for  such  a  home 
should  notify  the  Association  In  response  to  this,  a  large  number  of 
offers  were  received  from  all  parts  of  the  State.  Chief  among  them 
was  the  generous  offer  of  Mrs.  Nathaniel  Thayer,  of  Lancaster,  who 
stated  that  she  would  provide  a  house  for  the  accommodation  of  a 
number  of  sick  men,  wholly  without  cost,  except  in  the  matter  of 
attendants.  Many  other  generous  proposals  were  received,  notably 
from  the  city  of  Boston,  whose  officials  offered  the  use  of  the  Marcella 
Street  Home,  soon  to  be  abandoned  as  a  city  institution,  as  a  tem 
porary  home  for  the  returned  sick  soldiers.  As  time  went  on,  how 
ever,  it  was  found  that  a  temporary  home  was  not  required,  —  the  sick 
men  in  the  hospitals  going,  as  a  rule,  to  their  homes  as  soon  as  dis 
charged. 

Thus,  through  the  efforts  of  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid 
Association,  nearly  one  thousand  sick  soldiers  were  brought  to  Boston, 
and  either  placed  in  the  hospitals  in  and  about  that  city  or  assisted  to 


94  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

their  homes.  In  every  instance  the  comfort  and  care  of  the  soldier 
was  the  first  and  foremost  thought  of  the  officers  of  the  Association. 
Nothing  was  left  undone  to  secure  for  the  returning  sick  soldiers  the 
immediate  medical  care  they  stood  in  need  of,  or  to  bring  them  home 
to  Massachusetts  with  the  least  amount  of  physical  suffering  possible. 

The  success  which  attended  this  branch  of  the  work  was  owing  to 
the  careful  preliminary  preparations  for  receiving  them,  and  to  the 
untiring  devotion  of  those  who  acted  in  behalf  of  the  Association  in 
caring  for  them.  To  Dr.  Bradford  and  those  physicians  who  were 
responsible  for  the  carrying  out  of  the  details  of  arranging  for  hospital 
accommodations,  police  arrangements,  ambulance  service,  and  wharfage 
facilities,  is  due  the  gratitude  of  all  who  have  been  acquainted  with  this 
work. 

Another  source  of  great  strength  was  the  ready  co-operation  and 
hearty  support  rendered  by  Gov.  Wolcott,  Adjt.-Gen.  Dalton,  Surgeon- 
Gen.  Robert  A.  Blood,  and  the  members  of  the  Governor's  staff.  In 
every  effort  made  to  bring  home  sick  soldiers  these  officials  rendered 
every  service  in  their  power  quickly  and  without  question,  and  such 
support,  coming  in  times  of  emergency  when  rapidity  of  action  was  of 
the  greatest  importance,  gave  to  the  officers  of  the  Association  assist 
ance  which  was  both  necessary  and  valuable. 

The  police  of  the  city  of  Boston,  who  were  detailed  to  perform 
duty  at  the  landing  of  sick  soldiers  from  the  hospital  ships,  as  well  as 
from  the  trains,  are  entitled  to  great  credit  for  the  humane  manner  in 
which  they  assisted  in  this  work.  Notwithstanding  the  great  amount  of 
annoyances  incident  to  the  gathering  of  large  crowds,  the  officers  on 
duty  realized  that  those  who  gathered  to  witness  the  return  of  the  sick 
soldiers  were  actuated  from  motives  of  sympathy  or  from  a  desire  to 
greet  relatives  and  friends.  With  these  thoughts  always  in  mind,  they 
exercised  an  unusual  amount  of  patience,  and  not  only  treated  the 
gathered  thousands  with  consideration,  but  gladly  and  willingly  assisted 
in  the  work  of  caring  for  the  sick  men  in  every  way  in  their  power. 

To  the  members  of  the  Ambulance  Corps,  M.  V.  M.,  is  due  unstinted 
praise  for  the  services  which  they  rendered.  They  reported  upon  the 
arrival  of  every  ship  bringing  sick  men  to  Boston,  often  at  only  a  few 
hours'  notice.  They  assisted  the  returning  soldiers  from  the  ship  to 


Care  of  Returning  Sick  Soldiers.  95 

the  ambulances,  and  bore  those  too  ill  to  walk  carefully  and  tenderly 
upon  litters.  The  Ambulance  Corps  rendered  a  service  the  value  of 
which  is  inestimable.  Owing  to  their  training  in  caring  for  sick  and 
wounded  men,  they  were  able  to  perform  their  duties  with  quickness 
and  yet  with  extreme  care.  The  organization  is  a  credit  to  Massachu 
setts,  and  its  services  during  the  months  when  the  sick  soldiers  were 
returning  home  deserves  and  has  received  cordial  appreciation  and 
hearty  thanks. 

The  hospitals  in  Boston,  —  the  Massachusetts  General,  the  Boston 
City  Hospital,  the  Carney  Hospital,  the  Homoeopathic  Hospital,  the 
Somerville  Hospital,  the  Long  Island  Hospital,  and  the  Soldiers' 
Home  and  the  Marine  Hospital  in  Chelsea,  —  all  gave  splendid  and 
patriotic  co-operation  in  the  work  of  receiving  returning  sick  soldiers. 
Through  Dr.  Bradford  the  Association  early  ascertained  their  willing 
ness  to  receive  the  men,  and  the  number  they  each  could  accom 
modate.  The  large  number  of  men  received  and  sent  to  these 
hospitals  during  the  summer  months  in  no  wise  tested  their  capacity 
at  any  time.  They  willingly  made  arrangements  for  the  reception  of 
additional  numbers,  by  the  erection  of  tent  hospitals  in  the  grounds 
of  the  institutions,  and  in  this  regard  their  accommodations  were 
practically  unlimited. 

The  patience  and  good  nature  of  the  hospital  officials  during  the 
trying  months  of  the  summer  were  unremitting.  As  soon  as  the  men 
began  to  arrive  at  the  Boston  hospitals  inquiries  as  to  their  condition, 
together  with  requests  to  personally  see  the  patients,  poured  in  upon 
them  by  the  hundreds.  In  some  of  the  hospitals  so  great  was  this 
demand  that  additional  clerical  and  office  help  was  secured,  while  to 
care  for  the  soldiers  themselves  the  force  of  nurses  and  attendants  was 
largely  augmented.  It  was  found  that  the  regular  visiting  hours  would 
not  suffice  for  all  those  who  desired  to  personally  visit  the  sick  men, 
and  therefore  the  rule  of  the  hospital  was  often  suspended,  and  nearly 
all  day,  while  the  larger  number  of  soldiers  were  confined  in  them,  the 
hospitals  were  visited  by  hundreds  of  relatives  and  friends. 

During  all  this  trying  time,  with  the  care  of  the  greatly  enlarged 
number  of  patients  on  their  hands,  the  physicians  in  charge  gave 
kindly  consideration  to  the  requests  for  information  from  all  sources. 


g  6  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

On  Friday,  Sept.  24,  Col.  C.  R.  Greenleaf,  chief  surgeon,  U.  S.  A., 
paid  an  official  visit  to  the  hospitals  in  Boston  in  which  were  located 
the  sick  soldiers.  He  was  met  by  appointment  by  Dr.  Edward  H. 
Bradford  of  the  Executive  Committee  and  by  Col.  James  T.  Soutter  of 
the  Governor's  staff,  representing  His  Excellency,  the  Governor. 

Col.  Greenleaf  was  conveyed  to  the  City  Hospital  and  to  the  Massa 
chusetts  General  Hospital,  in  which  institutions  the  larger  number  of 
sick  soldiers  were  then  confined.  He  found  the  hospitals  admirably 
administered,  and  was  most  enthusiastic  over  the  care  which  the 
soldiers  were  receiving.  "  I  found,"  said  he,  "  at  both  hospitals  a  large 
corps  of  physicians  and  nurses  in  constant  attendance,  all  of  whom 
seemed  to  be  well  fitted  to  cope  with  the  most  serious  cases.  I  cannot 
praise  too  highly  the  excellent  provisions  which  have  been  made  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  sick  soldiers  and  the  splendid  care  they  are 
receiving  at  these  institutions.  The  quarters  I  found  to  be  clean,  well 
lighted,  and  ventilated,  and  admirably  adapted  for  the  care  of  the  most 
delicate  and  enfeebled  of  patients.  The  tents  I  consider  as  marvels 
of  neatness,  convenience,  and  comforts.  They  certainly  are  models 
and,  in  fact,  the  arrangements  throughout  are  well-nigh  perfect." 

The  home-coming  of  soldiers  was  frequently  characterized  by  ex 
cesses  of  various  kinds,  which  necessitated  their  return  to  a  hospital 
for  treatment.  Receptions,  late  hours,  and  exposure  to  the  weather 
oftentimes  brought  the  soldier  to  a  state  of  relapse,  from  which  in 
many  cases  he  never  recovered.  The  officers  realized  the  importance 
of  uttering  a  warning  to  the  soldier  as  well  as  to  his  friends  and  rela 
tives,  who  in  the  pleasure  of  seeing  him  at  home  once  more  were 
oftentimes  more  harmful  than  discreet  in  the  diversions  which  they 
offered  him. 

The  Secretary  therefore  issued  a  letter  of  advice  to  the  returning 
sick  soldiers,  which  was  widely  published  in  the  press,  and  which  it  is 
believed  was  instrumental  in  showing  the  great  dangers  which  the 
soldier  ran  in  exposure  and  in  over-indulgence  of  any  nature.  The 
letter  was  as  follows  :  — 

The  officers  of  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association 
desire  to  call  public  attention  to  the  great  need  of  caution  in  wel 
coming  the  returning  soldiers  of  the  Sixth.  The  Association  and 


Care  of  Returning  Sick  Soldiers.  97 

the  local  organizations  with  which  it  is  connected  have  carefully 
watched  the  health  condition  of  several  thousand  returning  soldiers. 
This  experience  has  plainly  shown  the  dangers  attending  the 
excitement  of  receptions,  and  the  imprudence  of  men  who  have 
been  long  deprived  of  the  luxuries  of  life. 

Very  many  soldiers  who  came  home  apparently  well  have, 
within  a  fortnight  of  their  arrival,  been  reported  to  us  as  ill, 
and  have  required  hospital  treatment.  In  one  Massachusetts 
town,  two  weeks  after  their  home-coming,  out  of  forty  returned 
soldiers  thirty-seven  were  on  the  sick  list.  The  medical  authori 
ties  are  unanimously  of  the  opinion  that  a  very  large  proportion 
of  this  illness  has  been  caused  by  the  kindness  of  friends  and  the 
lack  of  caution  among  the  men.  The  physicians  state  that  nearly 
every  man  returning  from  the  tropics  should  be  treated  for  the 
first  ten  days  as  an  invalid,  no  matter  how  well  and  strong  he  may 
appear.  The  sudden  change  of  climate  and  method  of  living 
brings  out  the  seeds  of  tropical  malaria  and  other  diseases  which 
have  been  latent  before,  and  by  care  and  prompt  treatment  dan 
gerous  results  can  be  avoided. 

Receptions  should  be  postponed  and  banquets  suspended  until 
the  soldiers  are  in  physical  condition  to  enjoy  them  without  danger 
to  their  health  and  lives.  The  men  appear  much  better  than  they 
are,  and  many  soldiers  who  had  escaped  the  dangers  of  the  battle 
field  have  been  killed  by  kindness  at  home.  The  returning 
soldiers  should  be  supplied  with  warm  clothing  and  light  food,  and 
on  the  first  indication  of  breaking  down  they  should  be  sent  to 
the  nearest  hospital,  where  their  expenses  will  be  paid  by  the 
Commonwealth.  ELIHU  B.  HAYES,  Secretary. 

The  Association  did  not  cease  its  activity  in  caring  for  the  returning 
sick  soldiers  upon  their  reaching  home.  In  scores  of  cases  assistance 
has  been  rendered  men  who  either  needed  hospital  care  or  treatment 
at  home.  A  sub-committee  of  the  Women's  Committee  was  appointed 
to  have  charge  of  this  work  outside  of  Boston,  and  the  work  in  Boston 
was  placed  in  charge  of  a  committee  on  relief  for  that  city  alone. 

Among  the  first  things  done  by  the  sub-committee  was  to  obtain 


98  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

from  leading  specialists  statements  as  to  the  care  and  treatment  which 
should  be  given  to  convalescents  who  had  been  ill  with  disease  incurred 
in  Cuba.  The  information  contained  in  the  statements  given  by  the 
physicians  consulted  was  of  great  importance  and  was  widely  circulated 
throughout  the  State,  copies  being  sent  to  the  various  local  auxiliary 
societies,  selectmen  in  towns,  and  the  public  officials  in  cities. 

The  Boston  Evening  Record  of  Sept.  12,  1898,  contained  the  follow 
ing  account  of  a  soldier's  relapse  and  death  :  — 

"  Another  soldier  of  the  Ninth  Massachusetts  Regiment  died  at 
the  City  Hospital  at  11.30  A.  M.,  making  the  fifth  death  in  the 
regiment  within  twenty-four  hours.  The  man's  name  was  P.  J. 
Foley,  of  Company  E.  He  returned  from  Camp  Wikoff  with  his 
regimen^,  and  felt  so  well  that  he  went  directly  to  his  home. 
Saturday  he  began  to  feel  ill,  and  Sunday  morning  he  called  at  the 
City  Hospital  and  asked  to  be  taken  care  of.  An  examination  by 
Dr.  Withington  showed  that  the  man  was  seriously  ill  with  malaria, 
and  in  the  afternoon  his  temperature  jumped  to  106  1/2.  In  the 
night  he  commenced  to  decline  rapidly,  and  in  spite  of  every 
assistance  that  medical  aid  could  render,  his  life  could  not  be 
saved." 

DR.  SMITHWICK'S   STATEMENT. 

Dr.  Smithwick,  who  had  charge  of  the  men  in  the  tents  at  the  City 
Hospital,  made  a  statement  which  should  be  carefully  considered  by 
the  relatives  and  friends  of  all  returning  soldiers  who  believe  them 
selves  convalescent  and  who  are  now  at  home  :  — 

"  The  cases  of  malaria  which  have  come  to  our  attention  are  of 
a  peculiar  type,  unknown  in  this  part  of  the  world.  The  men  in 
all  instances  have  what  we  call  aevisto  autumnal  malaria,  due  to  an 
organism  which  is  a  more  severe  type  and  requires  much  more 
careful  attention.  Previous  to  the  coming  of  the  soldiers  to  this 
hospital  we  had  never  had  more  than  four  or  five  cases,  and  they 
were  all  from  people  returning  from  South  America. 

"  In  ordinary  malaria  the  patient  has  a  chill  and  his  temperature 
jumps  up  to  a  high  notch.  Then  it  declines  almost  as  suddenly, 
and  the  patient  goes  for  a  day  without  feeling  the  effects.  Then 


I 

O        -t* 
%        ^ 


Care  of  Returning  Sick  Soldiers.  99 

the  temperature  takes  another  jump  and  declines  again  in  the 
same  manner.  This  is  liable  to  go  on  for  some  time  repeating 
itself,  and  it  is  not  long  before  the  patient  realizes  that  he  is  sick 
and  requires  care. 

"  In  the  type  of  malaria  which  we  are  handling,  the  patient  has 
a  chill  and  his  temperature  takes  a  sudden  jump,  but  declines 
much  more  gradually  day  by  day,  until  he  finally  thinks  he  has 
recovered.  He  goes  on  for  a  few  days  in  a  semi-stupid  condition, 
during  which  time  the  malaria  organisms  in  his  blood  are  forming 
without  his  realizing  it. 

"  He  may  continue  in  this  state  for  several  days,  a  week,  or 
longer.  But  the  time  comes  when  his  temperature  takes  another 
jump,  he  sinks  rapidly,  and  dies. 

"  Now  I  should  advise  that  all  soldiers  returning  from  the  dis 
trict  infested  with  this  type  of  malaria  be  taken  to  some  hospital 
and  examined,  or  placed  under  the  care  of  a  competent  physician 
if  taken  home. 

"  Like  Foley,  there  are  undoubtedly  a  great  number  who  have 
gone  to  their  homes  believing  that  they  were  convalescent,  having 
recovered,  as  they  thought,  from  the  first  chill,  but  all  the  time 
the  fatal  organism  is  forming  in  their  blood. 

"  The  blood  of  every  man  who  was  brought  to  this  hospital  was 
examined  at  once,  and  none  are  discharged  until  we  are  absolutely 
sure  that  all  signs  of  malaria  have  disappeared." 

In  answer  to  inquries  from  the  President  of  the  Women's  Committee 
of  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association  concerning  the  wisest 
measures  which  could  be  taken  to  aid  the  sick  soldiers,  then  returning 
to  their  homes,  the  following  letter  was  received  from  Dr.  Henry  P. 
Walcott,  chairman  of  the  State  Board  of  Health  :  — 

The  subject  of  your  note  is  one  that  has  occupied  the  attention 
of  the  Board  of  Health  lately,  because  the  disease  from  which  the 
lately  returned  soldiers  are  suffering  is  largely  typhoid  fever,  and 
this  of  course  has  a  very  important  relation  to  the  general  health 
of  the.  community.  The  relation  becomes  more  and  more  impor 
tant  the  greater  the  distance  from  the  large  cities  and  better 
methods  of  disinfection. 


ioo  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

I  do  not  think  that  this  class  of  cases  can  be  effectually  looked 
after  as  a  whole  by  the  small  towns,  and  I  have  urged  the 
authorities  to  retain  all  the  sick  soldiers  who  are  suffering  from  the 
communicable  diseases,  either  here  in  Bqston,  where  they  can  be 
well  taken  care  of  in  the  hospitals,  or  in  similar  institutions  in 
Cambridge,  Lowell,  Worcester,  Springfield,  and  many  other  towns. 
Here  they  should  be  retained  until  really  able  to  go  home  and 
look  after  themselves. 

There  is,  of  course,  the  other  class  of  cases,  soldiers  convalescent 
from  diseases  not  believed  to  be  communicable.  How  large  this 
class  is  we  do  not  know. 

At  the  end  of  the  great  war  the  many  thousands  of  cases  of 
invalids  were  looked  after  by  the  nearer  physicians,  either^by  town 
appointment  or  by  volunteered  service.  In  my  own  town,  Cam 
bridge,  though  public  provision  was  made,  the  work  was  really 
done  by  the  customary  medical  attendant  of  the  family,  and  gen 
erally  without  compensation,  given  or  asked.  My  impression  is 
that  a  similar  practice  will  prevail  now,  and  that  the  best  service 
that  the  Aid  Societies  can  now  do  will  consist  in  the  development 
of  local  boards  of  visitors,  seeking  the  help  of  local  physicians, 
and  keeping  themselves  well  informed  as  to  the  whereabouts  of 
the  returned  invalids. 

As  any  typhoid  fever  has  the  potentiality  of  an  epidemic  in  itself, 
I  hope  that  all  suspected  cases  may  be  detained  in  some  place 
where  they  may  cease  to  be  a  menace  to  the  whole  community. 
Very  truly  yours,  R    p    WALCOTT- 

The  circulation  of  this  information  among  the  cities  and  towns  of  the 
State  gave  to  the  authorities  much  needed  information.  Accompany 
ing  the  statements  of  the  two  physicians  in  regard  to  the  care  of 
convalescent  soldiers,  the  Committee  sent  out  another  statement  con 
cerning  returning  soldiers,  and  made  clear  the  facts  concerning  hospital 
care  and  the  aid  which  would  be  rendered  to  dependent  relatives,  as 
well  as  those  regarding  the  additional  pay  given  by  the  Commonwealth 
of  Massachusetts  to  volunteers. 


Care  of  Returning  Sick  Soldiers.  101 

This  statement  is  as  follows  :  — 

MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEER  AID  ASSOCIATION, 

1 1  Mt.  Vernon  Street,  Boston. 

Acting  under  authority  conferred  upon  him  by  the  Legislature, 
the  Governor  has  announced  that  the  Commonwealth  of  Massa 
chusetts  will  pay,  at  a  uniform  rate,  for  treatment  in  hospitals  of 
all  Massachusetts  soldiers  and  sailors  in  the  volunteer  service,  until 
they  are  discharged  therefrom. 

Every  Massachusetts  soldier  is  thus  provided  with  skilled  medi 
cal  attendance,  careful  nursing,  and  the  best  possible  chance  for 
speedy  recovery,  without  expense  to  the  soldier,  to  any  local  com 
mittee,  or  to  his  town. 

The  diseases  with  which  our  soldiers  return  from  Cuba  and 
Porto  Rico  are  peculiarly  those  which  require  hospital  treatment. 
Dr.  Walcott,  of  the  State  Board  of  Health,  has  urged  upon  the 
Association  the  great  danger  of  epidemics  of  typhoid  fever,  if 
soldiers  suffering  from  this  disease  are  treated  in  private  houses. 
Dr.  Smithwick  of  the  City  Hospital  has  also  called  attention  to  the 
dangerous  and  deceptive  character  of  the  tropical  malaria  fever, 
and  the  importance  of  detaining  the  patient  in  a  hospital  until  it  is 
proved  by  analysis  that  the  disease  is  permanently  subdued. 

The  Governor  has  so  arranged  that  soldiers  can  be  cared  for  at 
the  expense  of  the  State,  in  hospitals  near  their  own  homes.  In 
towns  where  no  hospitals  exist,  soldiers  can  obtain  admission  to 
some  hospital  within  easy  reach,  and  this  Association  offers  its 
assistance  in  making  all  necessary  arrangements. 

Soldiers,  after  their  discharge,  can  obtain  military  aid  in  the 
same  manner  as  soldiers  of  the  Civil  War.  (Chap.  561,  Acts  of 
1898.)  There  is  no  limit  set  upon  the  aid  that  may  be  given  to 
a  discharged  soldier,  disabled  in  this  war,  except  the  discretion  of 
the  State  Aid  Commissioners. 

State  aid  is  also  granted  to  dependent  relatives.  The  dependent 
relatives  under  the  law  are  the  wife,  widow,  children  under  sixteen 
years  of  age,  parents,  brothers,  and  sisters  actually  dependent 
upon  a  soldier.  No  dependent  relative  can  receive  more  than 


IO2  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

four  dollars  in  any  one  month,  and  not  more  than  twelve  dollars 
can  be  paid  to  all  the  dependent  relatives  of  any  one  soldier  in 
any  one  month. 

In  addition  to  the  regular  pay  from  the  United  States,  the  State 
gives  to  each  Massachusetts  soldier  seven  dollars  a  month.  This 
State  pay  can  now  be  obtained  at  the  office  of  the  State  Treasurer, 
or  will  be  sent  by  check  upon  proper  application  indorsed  by  the 
captain  of  the  company,  or  some  one  known  to  the  State  Treasurer. 

In  cases  of  death  this  seven  dollars  from  the  State  will  be  paid 
for  six  months  from  the  date  of  death  to  the  widow  or  legal  heirs, 
making  forty-two  dollars  to  each  family. 


MONTAUK   POINT. 


THE  results  which  Massachusetts  was  able  to  accomplish  at  Camp 
Wikoff,  Montauk  Point,  are  among  the  most  important  of  the  various 
branches  of  the  work  undertaken.  The  need  was  realized  at  the  very 
outset,  the  plans  for  the  relief  of  the  sick  soldiers  there  were  quickly 
formulated,  and  the  Association  was  on  the  ground  and  organized  for 
active  work  at  the  time  when  the  need  was  most  apparent.  Throughout 
the  entire  period  of  the  greatest  need,  its  agents  ministered  to  the 
wants  of  the  soldiers,  —  not  Massachusetts  troops  alone,  but  volunteers 
from  other  States,  and  the  regulars  as  well,  and  relieved  during  its  opera 
tions  thousands  of  cases  of  distress.  This  prompt  participation  in  the 
work  of  relief  at  Montauk,  therefore,  together  with  the  effective  services 
rendered  by  its  agents  there,  is  a  just  cause  for  congratulation,  and 
may  well  be  looked  back  upon  as  one  of  the  most  satisfactory  chapters 
of  its  history. 

The  troops  were  sent  into  camp  at  Montauk  Point  about  the  first  of 
August.  The  first  arrivals  were  quickly  followed  by  others,  and  the 
Association  was  not  slow  in  seeking  to  find  out  if  it  could  participate 
effectively  in  the  work  of  relief.  Dr.  C.  F.  Painter,  of  Boston,  was 
requested  to  go  to  Montauk  and  investigate  the  conditions  there  for 
the  information  of  the  Executive  Committee.  He  immediately  went 
to  Camp  Wikoff,  and  made  a  thorough  examination  of  the  camp,  its 
sanitary  arrangements,  and  the  probable  needs  of  the  troops  who  were 
to  be  sent  there.  He  reported  to  the  Executive  Committee  as  to  the 
conditions  of  the  camp  as  he  found  them  at  that  time,  and 'the  infor 
mation  he  was  able  to  give  the  committee  proved  most  valuable. 

On  Aug.  15,  two  days  after  Dr.  Painter's  return,  Mr.  Sherman  Hoar 
went  to  Montauk  Point  to  continue  the  investigation.  By  this  time  a 
very  large  number  of  troops  had  arrived,  and  Mr.  Hoar  found  that  the 
condition  of  the  returning  soldiers  was  such  as  required  the  very  best 


104  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

of  nourishment  and  care.  The  Secretary  of  War  was  therefore  asked, 
by  telegraph,  to  permit  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association  to 
establish  diet  kitchens  at  the  camp  to  provide  suitable  food  for  the  sick 
and  convalescent  soldiers.  Secretary  Alger  at  once  gave  permission 
for  the  establishment  of  the  diet  kitchens,  as  requested,  but  stipulated 
that  this  work  should  not  be  confined  to  Massachusetts  troops. 

Gladly  accepting  this  proviso,  steps  were  taken  to  establish  the 
kitchens.  On  the  iyth  of  August,  Mr.  Hoar  was  joined  in  New  York 
City  by  Dr.  William  H.  Prescott,  of  Boston,  and  together  they  returned 
to  Montauk  Point.  Upon  their  arrival  there,  the  Secretary  was  requested 
to  send  on  supplies,  ranges,  and  the  scores  of  needed  articles  for  the 
establishment  of  the  kitchens.  Mr.  Robert  M  Burnett  and  Mr.  Henry 
L.  Higginson  took  charge  of  the  sending  of  cooks,  helpers,  and  the  sup 
plies  required,  and  inside  of  twenty-four  hours  they  were  on  their  way. 

Mr.  Frank  H.  Wheeler,  of  Newton,  was  sent  to  New  London  to 
assume  charge  of  the  transportation  at  that  point.  Through  the  gen 
erosity  of  Mr.  Augustus  Hemenway,  of  Boston,  a  towboat,  the  "Alert," 
and  a  lighter,  were  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  Association  for  the 
purpose  of  transporting  supplies  from  New  London  to  Montauk  Point, 
a  wagon  and  horses  were  sent  across  to  transfer  the  supplies  from  the 
government  wharf  to  the  camp. 

Daily  shipments  of  supplies  from  Boston  were  sent  to  New  London, 
the  transportation  of  which  was  expedited  by  orders  of  President 
Clark  of  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.,  who  ordered  all  express  and 
other  passenger  trains  to  receive  supplies  at  the  baggage-car  door  until 
the  moment  of  starting.  These  supplies  were  supplemented  by  great 
quantities  of  fresh  milk  secured  in  and  about  New  London.  From 
that  city  they  were  forwarded  to  Camp  Wikoff,  the  tug  "  Alert  "  making 
two  trips  daily  to  the  Government  wharf  at  Montauk  Point. 

The  Second  Massachusetts  Regiment,  which  was  the  first  regiment 
of  the  State  to  arrive  at  the  camp,  received  daily  one  hundred  gallons 
of  milk,  two  tons  of  ice,  eggs,  fresh  meat,  and  provisions.  Later, 
when  the  Ninth  Regiment  arrived  from  Santiago,  great  quantities  of 
nourishing  food  and  delicacies  for  the  sick  were  sent  into  their  camp. 

On  Aug.  24,  the  Treasurer  issued  an  appeal  to  the  people  of  the 
Commonwealth  for  funds  to  carry  out  the  special  work  which  had  been 


Mont  auk  Point.  105 

undertaken  at  Montauk  Point,  and  the  response  was  immediate  and 
generous,  and  the  amount  subscribed  for  this  purpose  proved  more 
than  adequate  for  the  payment  of  all^  expenses  connected  with  the 
work  of  relief  at  Camp  Wikoff. 

The  magnitude  of  the  work  at  Camp  Wikoff,  and  the  great  need  of 
immediate  care  and  attention  for  the  sick  men  there,  made  it  necessary 
that  additional  representatives,  to  assist  Dr.  Prescott,  should  be  sent. 
Mr.  Grafton  D.  Gushing,  of  Groton,  having  volunteered  his  services,  was 
sent  to  Montauk,  on  Aug.  23,  and  on  the  29th  Mr.  Thomas  J.  Mc- 
Laughlin,  of  Boston,  was  sent  to  meet  the  Ninth  Regiment  upon  its 
arrival  at  the  camp  and  attend  to  its  needs. 

Mr.  Gushing  immediately  upon  his  arrival  at  the  camp  took  charge 
of  the  diet  kitchens  which  had  been  established,  and  superintended 
the  distribution  of  the  supplies  sent  daily  by  the  Association  from 
New  London.  Under  his  direction  were  placed  a  number  of  cooks 
and  assistants  from  Boston,  whose  business  it  was  to  prepare  the  food 
for  the  sick  soldiers.  Mr.  Cushing  also  had  charge  of  the  transporta 
tion  of  the  supplies  from  the  wharf  to  the  camps,  which  was  effected 
by  a  four-horse  team  belonging  to  the  Association. 

As  soon  as  the  Ninth  Regiment  arrived  at  Montauk,  Mr.  McLaughlin 
went  into  the  detention  camp  with  them,  and  owing  to  his  acquaintance 
with  the  officers  and  men  of  the  regiment,  gained  in  his  position  as 
armorer  at  the  East  Armory  at  Boston,  he  was  enabled  to  do  most 
effective  work.  He  distributed  food  and  delicacies  among  the  men, 
sought  out  soldiers  for  whom  anxious  relatives  made  inquiries,  and  in 
every  way  possible  furthered  the  purposes  for  which  he  was  there. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Cushing,  Dr.  Prescott,  who  had  established 
the  diet  kitchens,  was  relieved  of  the  responsibility  in  this  direction, 
and  was  able  to  give  his  attention  to  the  pressing  need  for  his  services 
in  the  care  of  the  sick  and  in  seeking  out  among  the  hospitals  those 
soldiers  for  whom  daily  inquiries  as  to  their  welfare  were  being  received 
by  the  hundreds  at  the  rooms  in  Boston. 

From  the  first  step  taken  in  undertaking  this  work  at  Montauk,  until 
the  troops  had  been  sent  away,  there  was  no  cessation  from  the  con 
stant,  unremitting  work  done  at  Camp  Wikoff.  From  early  morning 
until  late  at  night  agents  and  representatives  of  the  Association 


io6  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

labored  with  but  one  end  in  view,  —  to  minister  to  the  sick  soldiers 
and  relieve  their  necessities  so  far  as  it  was  possible  to  do  so. 

Their  efforts  were  not  confined  to  Massachusetts  troops.  After 
establishing  its  work  among  the  men  of  the  Second  and  Ninth  Massa 
chusetts  regiments,  the  Association  asked  Gen.  Wheeler,  in  charge  of 
the  camp,  to  designate  a  regiment  of  regulars  which  might  be  its 
especial  charge.  Gen.  Wheeler  replied  in  the  following  telegram  :  — 

CAMP  WIKOFF,  MONTAUK,  N.  Y., 

Aug.  25,  1898. 
Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association,  Boston,  Mass.  : 

The  First,  Third,  Sixth,  Ninth,  and  Tenth  regular  cavalry  are 
camped  here  together.  Their  losses  in  killed  and  wounded  in  the 
campaign  far  exceeded  those  of  any  other  regular  troops ;  one  out 
of  every  five  was  killed  or  wounded.  It  would  be  hard  to  desig 
nate  any  one  of  these  regiments  to  receive  your  kind  donation. 
Would  it  not  be  better  to  distribute  equally  to  each  of  these 
regiments  ?  I  will  have  a  tent  put  up  in  their  midst  for  the  accom 
modation  of  any  agent  you  send  to  distribute  personally  to  these 
troops.  Many  thanks  for  the  generosity  of  the  people 

WHEELER,   Commander. 

In  response  to  the  suggestion  contained  in  Gen.  Wheeler's  despatch, 
the  Association  immediately  forwarded  supplies  to  the  regiments  desig 
nated  by  him. 

Grimes  Battery  (Battery  A,  2d  U.  S.  Artillery)  was  also  furnished 
with  supplies,  and  many  regulars  belonging  to  other  arms  of  the  ser 
vice,  notably  the  Seventh  Infantry,  benefited  by  its  work.  On  an 
average  over  fifteen  hundred  soldiers  were  given  rations  of  nourishing 
food  daily  through  the  instrumentality  of  the  diet  kitchens  established. 

The  wisdom  of  procuring  independent  means  of  transportation  from 
New  London  to  Montauk  was  early  made  apparent.  In  no  other  way 
could  the  supplies  have  been  forwarded  promptly.  The  tug  employed 
for  this  purpose  also  was  frequently  used  to  transport  sick  soldiers  on 
furlough  to  New  London  on  their  way  to  their  homes,  thus  saving  them 
a  long  and  tiresome  journey  by  rail  to  New  York  City.  In  the  trans- 


Montauk  Point.  107 

ferring  of  the  remains  of  soldiers  who  had  died  in  the  hospitals  at 
Camp  Wikoff  the  tow-boat  "Alert "  was  of  great  value,  the  relatives 
being  taken  to  Montauk  for  the  purpose  of  securing  the  bodies,  and 
then  given  transportation  back  to  New  London,  from  which  place  the 
transportation  to  Massachusetts  was  a  matter  of  but  a  few  hours. 

No  better  idea  of  the  scope  of  the  work  performed  at  Montauk 
could  be  obtained  than  by  a  perusal  of  the  following  statement  given 
the  Executive  Committee  by  Dr.  William  H.  Prescott  and  Mr.  Grafton 
D.  Gushing,  its  agents  at  that  camp  :  — 

BOSTON,  Oct.  15,  1898. 
To  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE  OF  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEER 

AID  ASSOCIATION  : 

Gentlemen,  —  The  object  of  the  Association  in  sending  agents 
to  Montauk  Point  was  two-fold  :  — 

First.  To  look  after  the  Massachusetts  volunteer  troops  which 
were  encamped  there  and  to  see  that  they  lacked  nothing  neces 
sary  to  their  well-being ;  to  afford  a  direct  means  of  communica 
tion  between  them  and  their  friends  and  transportation  to  the  sick 
on  furlough. 

Second.  To  distribute  supplies  among  the  regular  troops  and  to 
provide  in  emergencies  necessities  which,  owing  to  the  congestion 
of  the  regular  channels  or  the  slowness  of  official  methods  could 
not  otherwise  be  obtained  until  the  need  for  them  had  passed. 

Your  Association  to  carry  out  its  purposes  chartered  the  tug 
"Alert"  which  made  two  trips  daily  between  New  London  and 
Montauk  Point,  provided  a  large  four-horse  wagon  to  distribute 
goods  and  supplies  throughout  the  camp,  and  gave  to  its  agents 
the  power  to  order  anything  they  deemed  necessary  to  make 
effective  the  work  your  Association  had  undertaken.  Two  agents 
were  sent  to  Montauk  and  one  to  New  Haven. 

The  New  London  agent,  Mr.  F.  H.  Wheeler,  bought  such  sup 
plies  as  could  be  obtained  in  that  city,  received  the  goods  shipped 
to  his  care  from  Boston,  and  saw  that  all  supplies  were  delivered 
to  your  agents  at  Montauk.  There  his  responsibility  ceased.  Mr. 
Wheeler  performed  his  duties  with  ability  and  conscientiousness, 
and  all  orders  from  Montauk  were  promptly  filled. 


io8  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

Your  agents  at  Montauk  submit  the  following  report  and  sum 
mary  of  the  work  at  Camp  Wikoff :  — 

The  Second  and  Ninth  Massachusetts  were  cared  for  ;  milk,  ice, 
water,  fresh  bread  and  eggs  were  supplied  them  in  large  quantities. 
Every  reasonable  request  was  complied  with  and  every  care  was 
taken  to  make  them  feel  that  Massachusetts  was  watchful  of  her 
sons  in  the  field. 

On  their  departure  from  Montauk  such  provision  as  possible 
was  made  to  supply  them  with  milk,  coffee,  bread,  and  sandwiches 
on  the  steamer  which  carried  them  to  New  London.  Many  friends 
and  relatives  of  Massachusetts  men  were  taken  to  and  fro  on  the 
Association's  boat ;  many  sick  men  on  furlough  were  taken  to  New 
London,  and  every  facility  was  given  for  carrying  back  the  dead. 
All  inquiries  about  the  men  were  carefully  answered,  men  being 
looked  up  in  camp  and  hospitals. 

A  great  quantity  of  supplies  was  distributed  among  the  regulars. 
Milk,  ice,  eggs,  watermelons,  corn,  sweet  potatoes,  cabbages,  tur 
nips,  oranges,  apples,  peaches,  hams,  preserves,  oatmeal,  port 
wine,  and  delicacies  not  supplied  by  the  Government,  were  gener 
ously  distributed.  Your  agents  used  every  means  to  discover  what 
regiments  were  in  need ;  they  questioned  officers  and  men  and 
went  about  from  one  end  of  the  camp  to  the  other  to  see  for 
themselves  what  the  conditions  were.  They  offered  assistance 
wherever  they  found  a  need ;  they  visited  the  regimental,  division, 
detention,  and  general  hospitals  so  that  your  generosity  was  felt  at 
some  time  or  other  in  every  part  of  the  camp. 

The  Tenth  Cavalry  (colored)  was  particularly  the  object  of  your 
care,  for  it  was  thought  fitting  that  Massachusetts  should  take 
charge  of  a  negro  regiment. 

Through  your  Association  some  thirty  nurses  and  twenty  doctors 
were  introduced  into  the  general  and  detention  hospitals. 

Diet  kitchens  were  established  by  you  with  the  co-operation  of 
the  Red  Cross  Society,  under  the  direction  of  Mrs.  Willard,  a 
lady  sent  by  the  latter  society,  at  the  general,  detention,  and  the 
three  division  hospitals.  Your  Association  provided  twenty  cooks, 
most  of  the  ranges,  all  the  utensils  and  the  coal  and  many  of 


I   § 
?    £ 


^H 
£* 


Si 


O  m 


o 


Montauk  Point.  109 

the  supplies.  These  were  all  brought  from  New  London  on  the 
"Alert,"  and  distributed  by  your  agents  among  the  five  kitchens. 
An  arrangement  was  made  with  the  Government  after  the  kitchens 
were  in  good  running  order  whereby  the  Government  took  them 
and  paid  all  the  expenses  (running).  Without  your  help  and 
initiation  they  might  not  have  been  established.  This  is  a 
very  good  example  of  the  manner  in  which  your  Association 
by  its  ability  to  act  at  once  was  able  to  supersede  governmental 
action. 

The  establishment  of  these  kitchens  which  supply  delicacies 
indispensable  to  the  sick,  such  as  broths,  jellies,  delicately  cooked 
food,  special  diets,  etc.,  is  now  recognized  as  being  the  best  thing 
done  in  the  camp.  Had  your  Association  accomplished  nothing 
but  this  in  the  camp  the  result  would  have  been  worth  the  trouble 
and  expense  to  which  you  were  put. 

The  great  value  of  the  work  your  Association  was  able  to  do  at 
Camp  Wikoff  lay  in  the  control  of  independent  transportation, 
and  the  generosity  with  which  any  demands  made  by  your  agents 
were  met  unhesitatingly.  The  government  might  eventually  have 
supplied  what  was  necessary,  but  action  had  to  be  prompt  to  be 
effective,  and  it  was  here,  beyond  question,  that  had  it  not  been  for 
your  Association  and  associations  of  a  like  nature,  the  suffering 
would  have  been  immeasurably  greater. 

Your  Association  came  forward  at  the  critical  time,  when  it 
seemed  that  the  regular  system  of  distribution  could  not  meet 
the  extraordinary  conditions  then  existing.  When,  owing  to  the 
removal  of  the  volunteer  troops,  the  first  pressure  had  disappeared 
and  the  regular  channels  of  distribution  seemed  to  your  agents  to 
be  working  satisfactorily  the  sending  of  supplies  by  your  Associa 
tion  was  discontinued. 

In  many  ways  difficult  to  particularize  your  Association  has 
made  its  influence  felt,  and  the  cordiality  with  which  your  agents 
were  received  by  all  the  officers  of  the  regular  army  with  whom 
they  came  in  contact  is  a  good  proof  of  the  respect  which  was  felt 
for  the  work  you  were  doing.  Your  agents  were  treated  with 
uniform  courtesy  by  all  the  government  officials,  and  it  was  largely 


no  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association.          . 

owing  to  their  hearty  and  kindly  co-operation  that  your  Association 
was  so  effective.  They  recognized  the  importance  of  what  was 
being  done,  and  were  eager  and  ready  to  act  on  any  suggestions 
made  by  your  agents  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the  soldiers. 

Massachusetts  has  done  a  noble  and  much-needed  work.  It 
will  be  gratifying  to  her  citizens  to  find  her  always  in  the  lead 
where  suffering  is  to  be  alleviated. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

W.  H.  PRESCOTT. 

GRAFTON  DULANEY  GUSHING. 


REPORT   OF   THE   WOMEN'S   COMMITTEE 


OF  THE 


MASSACHUSETTS   VOLUNTEER   AID 
ASSOCIATION. 


REPORT  OF  THE  WOMEN'S  COMMITTEE. 


THE  Committee  of  Women,  appointed  by  the  Massachusetts  Vol 
unteer  Aid  Association,  met  at  n  Mount  Vernon  Street,  on  Tuesday, 
June  7,  1898.  Mrs.  J.  Elliot  Cabot  had  been  appointed  President  by 
the  Association,  and  Mrs.  Roger  Wolcott,  Mrs.  F.  T.  Greenhalge,  Mrs. 
William  E.  Russell,  and  Mrs.  Mary  .A.  Livermore,  Vice-Presidents. 
The  committee  completed  their  organization  by  appointing  Mrs. 
Nathaniel  Thayer,  Treasurer,  and  Miss  Lucy  Lowell,  Secretary.  The 
other  members  of  the  committee,  as  finally  organized,  were  :  — 

Miss  M.  S.  AMES,  North  Easton. 

MR^.  J.  L-  BATES,  East  Boston. 

MRS.  JOHN  G.  BLAKE,  Boston. 

MRS.  EDNAH  C.  CHENEY,  Jamaica  Plain. 

MRS.  P.  A.  COLLINS,  Boston. 

MRS.  ZENAS  CRANE,  Dalton. 

MRS.  EBEN  S.  DRAPER,  Hopedale. 

MRS.  A.  P.  GARDNER,  Hamilton. 

MRS.  WILLIAM  HOOPER,  Boston. 

MRS.  JULIA  WARD  HOWE,  Boston. 

Miss  SARAH  E.  HUNT,  Salem. 

MRS.  ELLEN  C.  JOHNSON,  Sherborn. 

MRS.  MARY  MORTON  KEHEW,  Boston. 

MRS.   H.  M.  KNOWLTON,  New  Bedford. 

Miss  FRANCES  M.  LINCOLN,  Worcester. 

MRS.  DANIEL  LOTHROP,  Concord. 

Miss  GRACE  W.  MINNS,  Boston. 

Miss  M.  C.  MIXTER,  Boston. 

Miss  MARY  MORISON,  Boston. 

MRS.  THOMAS  NESMITH,  Lowell. 


ii4  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

MRS.  H.  M.  PHILLIPS,  Springfield. 
MRS.  JOSIAH  P.  QUINCY,  Boston. 
MRS.  J.  M.  SEARS,  South  bo  rough. 
MRS.  WILLIAM  T.  SEDGWICK,  Boston. 
Miss  MABEL  SIMPKINS,  Yarmouthport. 
MRS.  GEORGE  E.  SMITH,  Everett. 
Miss  E.  P.  SOHIER,  Beverly. 
MRS.  L.  A.  TURNER,  Boston. 
MRS.  WINSLOW  WARREN,  Dedham. 
MRS.  JOHN  C.  WHITIN,  Whitinsville. 

At  the  request  of  the  committee,  Secretary  E.  B.  Hayes  stated  the 
objects  and  aims  of  the  Association,  and  told  of  its  projected  work  in 
fitting  out  a  hospital  ship. 

A  Committee  on  the  Organization  of  Towns  was  then  appointed, 
to  arouse  interest  in  the  work  of  the  Association  throughout  the  State, 
and  to  encourage  the  formation  of  branches  or  auxiliaries  to  co-operate 
with  the  Association.  This  committee  consisted  of  Miss  Sohier,  Mrs. 
Draper,  Mrs.  Gardner,  Mrs.  Hooper,  Mrs.  Lothrop,  Mrs.  Turner,  and 
Miss  Alice  S.  Clement,  the  Secretary  of  the  Committee  on  Supplies. 
The  committee  wrote  to  prominent  people  all  over  the  State,  and  the 
result  of  their  labors  was  that,  before  many  weeks  had  passed,  almost 
every  town  in  the  State  was  working  for  the  soldiers,  —  some  of  them 
through  organizations  existing  before  the  formation  of  the  Association, 
but  a  very  large  number  sent  money  and  supplies  directly  to  the  Asso 
ciation.  Lowell,  New  Bedford,  Springfield,  and  Worcester,  besides 
forming  auxiliary  societies,  became  centres  for  the  towns  in  their 
neighborhoods,  which  worked  under  them  or  in  connection  with  them. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Women's  Committee,  a  Committee  on 
Supplies  was  also  appointed,  and  this  committee  became  the  executive 
branch  of  the  women's  work  in  fitting  out  the  hospital  ship  "  Bay 
State,"  and  in  sending  supplies  to  the  Massachusetts  regiments  in  their 
camps,  and  also  to  hospitals.  This  committee  consisted  of  twenty-nine 
members,  and  later  the  number  was  increased  to  thirty-five.  The  first 
meeting  was  held  June  9,  when  Miss  Mary  Morison  was  chosen  chair 
man  and  Miss  Alice  S.  Clement  secretary.  Subsequent  meetings  were 


Report  of  the  Women's  Committee  115 

held  June  28,  July  25,  Aug.  29,  and  Oct.  4,  and  at  the  last  one  Miss 
Grace  W.  Minns  was  choson  chairman  in  place  of  Miss  Morison,  who 
had  resigned.  A  vote  was  passed  giving  authority  to  the  chairman  to 
appoint  an  assistant  secretary  in  case  of  need,  and  when  Miss  Clement 
was  obliged  to  withdraw  from  the  work,  Miss  Mary  L.  Watson  was 
chosen  to  act  in  that  capacity. 

The  following  circular  was  sent  out  early  in  June  by  the  Organization 
Committee  to  all  the  towns  in  the  State  :  — 

Dear  Madam,  —  In  view  of  the  call  of  the  Massachusetts  Vol 
unteer  Aid  Association  for  money  and  supplies  for  the  relief  of  the 
soldiers  and  sailors  of  our  State  during  the  war  with  Spain,  we, 
the  women  of  the  committee  appointed  by  the  Association,  beg 
your  attenton  to  the  following  letter,  and  ask  your  co-operation 
with  us,  feeling  sure  that  your  valuable  influence  and  aid  will  call 
out  an  immediate  and  a  hearty  response  for  the  cause  so  near  all 
our  hearts. 

In  order  that  our  good  old  Commonwealth  should  do  the 
effective  work  in  the  united  and  large-hearted  way,  commensurate 
with  her  patriotism  and  earliest  traditions,  it  is  imperative  that 
every  town  and  village  of  our  State  should  take  part  in  the  work, 
that  the  union  of  hearts  and  of  hands  may  bring  the  desired  result 
speedily  and  effectively,  till  there  is  no  soldier  nor  sailor  of  the 
"  Old  Bay  State  "  unprovided  with  what  might  have  been  his,  to 
alleviate  the  privation  and  suffering  occasioned  by  the  war. 

To  this  end  we  beg  you  to  form  at  once  in  your  town  an 
organization  of  women,  uniting  all  other  societies,  committees,  and 
clubs,  together  with  those  women  who  are  members  of  none,  which 
shall  co-operate  with  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association, 
and  to  be  the  nucleus  or  central  force  in  your  town  for  the  work 
of  the  Association ;  and  we  would  request,  if  you  are  unable  to  do 
this  organizing  work  personally,  that  you  will  select  and  forward  to 
us  the  name  of  some  representative  woman  who  will  do  it. 

The  immediate  requirements  of  the  Association  are  :  — 

First.  The  most  pressing  need  is  for  money  to  prepare  the 
hospital  ship  for  its  new  service,  and  to  equip  it  with  its  working 
force;  also  to  furnish  the  supplies  tobe^carried  in  it  to  the  soldiers 


n6  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

and  sailors  who  have  gone  or  are  going  out  from  our  State.  This 
is  the  most  imperative  need. 

Second.  Supplies.  The  supplies  will  be  clothing,  medical 
stores,  and  food.  Ten  thousand  abdominal  bands  are  needed  at 
once.  A  printed  circular  is  in  course  of  preparation,  which  will 
be  sent  out  in  large  numbers,  giving  details  of  the  supplies  that 
are  needed,  and  how  to  be  collected  or  prepared,  so  that  every 
Town  Auxiliary  to  the  Association  can  go  to  work  at  once. 

We  beg  your  valuable  co-operation  in  this  service,  and  hope 
shortly  to  report  every  town  and  hamlet  in  our  State  actively  at 
work,  till  our  Commonwealth  is  engirdled  with  this  labor  of  love 
for  our  country,  that  would  seek  to  repay  the  debt  of  gratitude  we 
owe  the  brave  defenders  of  our  flag,  who  have  gone  from  our 
midst. 

The  duties  of  the  Supply  Committee  were  to  give  instructions  con 
cerning  the  preparation  of  the  supplies  asked  for  in  the  circular,  to 
receive  them  from  the  various  contributors,  to  unpack  and  acknowledge 
them,  and  repack  and  forward  them  to  the  places  recommended  by 
the  Association.  In  order  to  do  this  work  to  the  best  advantage, 
small  sub-committees  were  at  once  formed  to  furnish  patterns,  purchase 
articles,  and  give  instructions. 

The  Pattern  Committee's  duties  were  to  find  out  the  most  approved 
patterns  of  abdominal  bands,  hospital  and  surgical  shirts,  pajamas, 
mosquito  canopies,  comfort  bags,  etc.,  and  to  furnish  specimens,  and 
written  or  oral  instructions  to  the  various  branches.  There  were  many 
conflicting  opinions,  and  even  the  highest  authorities  did  not  always 
agree,  but  a  fair  degree  of  uniformity  was  reached  after  many  experi 
ments  had  been  tried.  Miss  Clement  was  appointed  chairman  of  this 
committee,  and  she  with  the  help  of  three  or  four  ladies  who  were 
always  at  headquarters  through  the  summer,  gave  these  patterns  to  the 
anxious  inquirers  who  came  constantly,  and  explained  the  reasons  for 
the  apparently  inexplicable  peculiarities  of  structure. 

The  work  of  the  Purchasing  Committee  was  to  buy  such  supplies  of 
clothing,  etc.,  as  were  needed,  and  were  not  received  by  gift,  and  also 
to  act,  when  requested,  as  agents  of  the  various  branches  and  buy 


Report  of  the  Women' 's   Committee.  117 

material  for  them  to  make  up  into  garments.  This  committee  bought 
the  outfits  for  the  patients  on  board  the  "  Bay  State,"  the  uniforms  for 
the  nurses,  and  similar  articles  for  which  special  donations  of  money 
were  made. 

The  Committee  on  Instruction  was  expected  to  visit  towns  wishing 
information  about  the  most  approved  methods  of  work,  but  they  did 
little,  as  this  ground  was  so  well  covered  by  the  larger  committee  on 
town  organization. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Supply  Committee,  the  members  were 
told  that  ten  thousand  abdominal  bands,  one  thousand  pajamas,  five 
hundred  hospital  shirts  and  five  hundred  surgical  shirts  were  required, 
as  well  as  an  indefinite  number  of  sheets,  pillow  cases,  and  comfort 
bags.  Circulars  giving  dimensions  and  suggestions  for  articles  needed 
were  at  once  sent  out,  and  soon  the  two  rooms  assigned  to  the  Women's 
Committee  were  full  of  boxes  of  contributions  sent  in  response.  Inevi 
tably  there  was  much  confusion,  and  the  climax  was  reached  July  8 
when  many  cases  were  packed  and  sent  to  the  steamship  "  St.  Louis  " 
at  Portsmouth  to  go  to  Cuba.  After  the  warehouse  was  opened,  July  7, 
no  more  packages  were  received  at  Mount  Vernon  Street,  but  the 
rooms  there  were  the  headquarters  for  information,  and  Miss  Clement, 
the  secretary  of  the  Supply  Committee,  and  her  volunteer  assistants 
were  kept  constantly  busy  answering  questions. 

With  the  opening  of  the  storehouse  it  was  found  necessary  to  sys 
tematize  the  work  carefully.  A  corps  of  volunteers  worked  under  the 
superintendence  of  members  of  the  Supply  Committee  who  were  styled 
captains.  Each  captain  was  responsible  for  the  work  done  on  one  day 
of  every  week,  and  under  her  supervision  all  cases  were  unpacked,  the 
contents  counted  and  recorded.  Then  the  articles  were  repacked,  all 
of  one  kind  together,  in  boxes  of  regulation  size,  small  enough  to  be 
carried  through  the  surf,  if  necessary.  The  lists  of  articles  received 
were  made  on  separate  tags  for  each  case  and  were  sent  at  the  end  of 
the  day  to  Mount  Vernon  Street,  where  the  secretary  of  the  committee 
recorded  and  acknowledged  them.  The  supplies  came  in  so  rapidly 
that  the  work  lasted  from  early  morning  to  night  every  day,  but  the 
ardor  of  the  volunteers  never  slackened,  even  in  the  hottest  weather. 
About  fifty  ladies  came  to  help  during  July  and  August,  the  number 


ii8  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

varying  from  four  or  five  to,  twenty  in  a  day,  according  to  the  exigencies 
of  the  time.  The  heavy  packing  was  done  by  men  hired  for  the  pur 
pose,  but  all  else  by  the  women.  Some  idea  of  the  work  done  under 
the  supervision  of  the  Supply  Committee  may  be  gained  from  the 
statistics  given  at  the  end  of  this  report. 

After  conferring  with  the  Central  Committee,  it  was  deemed  inad 
visable  to  raise  a  separate  fund  for  the  women's  work,  but  as,  early  in 
the  summer,  subscriptions  were  coming  in  slowly  to  the  treasurer,  Mrs. 
Thayer  undertook  to  ask  contributions  for  fittings  for  the  "  Bay  State," 
from  people  who  would  give  this  money  in  addition  to  their  subscrip 
tions  to  Col.  H.  L.  Higginson.  The  sum  so  received  amounted  to 
over  two  thousand  dollars,  and  was  expended  for  outfits  for  the 
patients,  blankets,  pneumatic  mattresses,  special  food  supplies,  etc. 

Special  gifts  were  made  for  other  supplies  on  the  "  Bay  State,"  which 
being  luxuries  rather  than  necessities  could  not  be  asked  for  from  the 
general  fund.  In  this  way  games  were  bought  for  the  use  of  the 
patients,  and  envelope  libraries  were  made  up  from  the  magazines 
sent  to  the  Association.  The  chief  gift  of  this  kind,  however,  was  the 
library,  consisting  of  two  hundred  and  seventy-two  volumes,  the  money 
for  which  was  raised  by  Mrs.  Mary  Morton  Kehew.  At  the  suggestion 
of  Dr.  Bradford,  the  books  were  chosen  by  Mr.  Putnam,  the  librarian 
of  the  Boston  Public  Library,  and  his  assistants,  who  not  only  gave 
valuable  time  but  contributed  about  seventy-five  dollars  to  purchase 
books.  The  library  authorities  also  gave  the  catalogues,  book  plates, 
and  all  necessary  printing.  The  books,  being  intended  for  the  use  of 
invalids,  were  chiefly  fiction,  but  there  were  also  many  valuable  biogra 
phies,  popular  histories,  and  a  few  religious  works.  As  it  was  necessary 
to  have  them  light  to  hold,  as  well  as  light  to  read,  many  well  known 
large  books  had  to  be  omitted,  and  the  desire  not  to  have  too  many 
familiar  works  led  to  the  omission  of  many  standard  books.  It  is 
pleasant  to  know  that  the  library  proved  most  useful,  many  a  man  who 
was  not  strong  enough  to  read,  wishing  to  have  a  book  to  hold  in  his 
hand. 

Even  before  the  Women's  Committee  were  appointed,  many  applica 
tions  had  been  received  at  the  office  of  the  Association,  from  women  in  all 
parts  of  the  State,  who  were  anxious  to  work  for  the  soldiers.  Miss 


Report  of  the  Women's  Committee,  119 

Clement  had  sent  patterns  of  abdominal  bands  to  forty  societies  or  asso 
ciations,  asking  them  to  contribute  one  hundred  bands  each  to  be  sent 
to  the  soldiers  at  once.  The  Lend-a-Hand  Society,  through  its  secretary,, 
Mrs.  Bernard  Whitman,  whose  experience  in  the  tropics  was  of  great 
value,  did  inestimable  service  by  preparing  patterns  of  garments  which 
were  ready  at  1 1  Mount  Vernon  Street,  for  distribution,  when  the 
Women's  Supply  Committee  began  their  labors.  On  the  nth  of  May, 
Rev.  E.  E.  Hale,  President  of  the  Lend-a-Hand  Clubs  of  Massachu 
setts,  had  issued  a  circular  letter  asking  the  clubs  to  be  ready  for  any 
emergency,  and  to  notify  Mrs.  Whitman  whether  they  would  give 
money,  material,  garments,  or  time.  The  response  was  prompt ;  some 
of  the  business  firms  gave  materials ;  an  agent  was  sent  to  several  of  the 
steamship  companies  for  the  dimensions  of  sheets  and  pillow  cases  for 
a  stateroom  berth,  and  to  the  Boston  hospitals  for  patterns  of  surgical 
and  hospital  shirts.  The  result  was  that  the  Lend-a-Hand  Society 
could  supply  garments  for  the  first  requisition  made  on  the  Associa. 
tion  from  Fort  Warren,  and  that  patterns  were  given  out  from  the 
office  at  Mount  Vernon  Street  before  the  Women's  Committee  fairly 
realized  that  they  had  come  into  existence. 

The  "  Lend-a-Hand  office,"  the  Woman' s  Journal  office,  the  salesroom 
of  the  Women's  Educational  and  Industrial  Union,  and  the  State  head 
quarters  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Revolution  were  all  used,  through  the 
generosity  of  their  managers,  as  branches  of  the  Massachusetts  Volun 
teer  Aid  Association,  where  patterns,  advice,  and  instruction  in  making 
garments  for  the  use  of  the  soldiers  could  be  obtained.  The  public- 
spirited  enthusiasm  and  industry  of  the  women  of  the  State  were 
unbounded,  and  associations  of  all  kinds  contributed  money  and  cloth 
ing.  It  is  impossible  to  speak  of  all  these  bodies  in  detail,  but  special 
mention  may  be  made  of  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps  and  the  Women's 
Clubs,  and  other  patriotic  societies. 

Many  of  the  workers  who  gave  their  time  through  the  hot  summer 
months,  and  who  came  with  unfailing  regularity,  day  after  day  and  week 
after  week,  were  drawn  from  the  ranks  of  these  societies.  Not  only  did 
representatives  come  to  help  at  headquarters,  but  the  sewing  societies 
in  almost  every  town  met  constantly  to  make  garments,  and  women  cut 
and  sewed  and  packed  as  in  the  days  of  the  Civil  War.  It  would  be 


120  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

impossible  to  pay  too  high  a  tribute  to  the  unselfish  devotion  and 
intelligent  activity  of  these  volunteer  workers,  who  gave  themselves 
without  stint  to  the  relief  and  help  of  the  soldiers.  Perhaps  no  women 
in  the  State  made  so  great  a  sacrifice  as  those  in  the  reformatory  at 
Sherborn,  who  gave  up  one  of  their  very  few  holidays,  the  4th  of  July, 
to  sewing  for  the  soldiers,  and  sent  in  the  towels  made,  to  be  used  on 
the  hospital  ship. 

Early  in  July,  before  the  money  which  was  afterwards  given  in  gener 
ous  measure  had  begun  to  come  in  to  the  treasurer,  one  of  the  Women's 
Committee  wrote  the  following  appeal  for  the  hospital  ship,  which  was 
printed  and  circulated  :  — 

HOSPITAL   SHIP   "BAY   STATE." 

LET  EVERY  ONE  LEND  A  HAND  FOR  THE  IMMEDIATE  EQUIPMENT 
OF  THE  VESSEL. 

In  view  of  the  extreme  urgency  of  the  need  for  the  services  of 
the  hospital  ship  to  be  sent  by  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  it  is 
imperative  that  the  people  of  our  State  act  at  once  by  contribut 
ing  to  the  immediate  equipment  of  the  ship  "Bay  State." 

It  is  only  necessary  to  impress  upon  our  patriotic  citizens  the 
fact  that  the  lives  and  well-being  of  our  brave  soldiers  and  sailors 
are  at  stake  for  the  people  of  Massachusetts  to  rise  to  the  emer 
gency  and  meet  it  nobly.  They  have  always  done  so  in  the  past. 
Massachusetts  is  only  another  name  for  promptness  in  action,  as 
well  as  nobility  of  principle.  Let  every  man,  woman,  and  child 
throughout  the  State  send  something  at  once  to  the  fund. 

Events  at  Santiago  since  July  i  tell  us  to  lose  no  time  in  equip 
ping  our  hospital  ship.  Our  Massachusetts  boys  need  its  services. 
Their  lives  are  endangered ;  it  is  our  duty  to  save  them  all  the 
suffering  that  it  is  possible  to  avert.  The  wounded  should  at  once 
be  brought  up  to  our  Northern  hospitals  for  treatment.  We  should 
not  waste  an  instant,  but  raise  the  money  and  equip  our  ship  and 
send  it  off  on  its  errand  of  mercy.  Think  of  a  hospital  ship  with 
the  name  of  the  "  Bay  State,"  and  dallying  when  called  to  duty  ! 
It  must  be  true  to  its  name,  and  start  as  soon  as  possible.  It  is 


Report  of  the  Women's   Committee.  121 

suggested  that  a  mass  meeting  of  citizens  be  called  in  every  town 
in  our  State,  where  contributions  would  be  taken  up  in  response  to 
patriotic  speeches  and  music,  these  contributions  to  be  at  once 
sent  to  Mr.  Henry  L.  Higginson,  50  State  Street,  Boston,  Treasurer 
Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

We  should  not  rest  a  moment  until  this  hospital  ship  is  ready 
and  on  its  way.  Let  us  make  our  grand  old  State  rise  to  the 
glory  of  her  duty  promptly  done. 

The  branch  associations  throughout  the  State  were  kept  informed 
by  circular  letters  of  the  work  and  plans  of  the  Association.  In  August 
letters  were  sent  to  California,  containing  information  about  the  work 
of  fitting  out  the  hospital  ship,  in  the  hope  that  this  knowledge  might 
be  of  assistance  to  people  engaged  in  a  similar  enterprise  there. 

As  soon  as  the  sick  soldiers  began  to  come  home  from  Cuba  and 
Puerto  Rico,  a  special  sub-committee  was  appointed  to  take  charge  of 
this  branch  of  the  work.  In  this  connection  it  was  arranged  that  a 
visitor  should  go  to  each  of  the  Boston  hospitals,  to  keep  the  Associa 
tion  informed  of  the  state  of  the  soldiers,  and  provide  any  comforts 
or  delicacies  that  might  be  required.  These  visitors  were  chosen  from 
the  Women's  Committee,  and  Supply  Committee,  and  from  volunteer 
workers,  who  were  always  ready  for  any  service.  As  the  summer  went 
on,  many  demands  for  help  came  to  the  Association  from  members  of 
the  soldiers'  families.  This  matter  was  referred  to  the  Women's  Com 
mittee,  and,  after  mature  deliberation,  they  decided  that  such  help  was 
outside  their  province.  At  the  same  time  a  statement  was  prepared 
telling  all  applicants  how  relief  could  be  obtained  from  the  State. 

The  headquarters  of  the  Association  being  in  Boston,  no  branch 
organization  had  been  formed  in  that  city  when  auxiliaries  were  estab 
lished  all  over  the  State  to  work  for  the  soldiers;  but  early  in  Septem 
ber  it  became  apparent  that  such  a  branch  must  be  formed  if  the 
Boston  soldiers  were  to  receive  adequate  care.  Mrs.  Cabot,  therefore, 
invited  several  Boston  people  to  take  charge  of  the  work,  which  was 
at  once  thoroughly  organized,  and  carried  on  with  great  efficiency. 

The  presidents  of  the  branch  societies  in  towns  where  there  were 
many  soldiers  were  invited  to  come  to  the  weekly  meetings  of  the 


122  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

Women's  Committee,  and  in  this  way  a  knowledge  was  obtained  of 
the  care  which  sick  soldiers  were  receiving  all  over  the  State.  But 
every  town  could  not  be  thus  reached.  A  circular  was  therefore  pre 
pared  which  gave  the  information  that  the  Governor  would  pay  for  the 
treatment  in  hospitals,  of  all  Massachusetts  soldiers  and  sailors  in  the 
volunteer  service,  and  that,  in  towns  without  hospitals  soldiers  could 
be  taken  to  some  hospital  near  by.  The  Association  offered  its  assist 
ance  in  making  all  necessary  arrangements.  The  same  circular  gave 
instruction  about  obtaining  military  and  State  aid  by  soldiers  and  their 
dependent  relatives,  and  told  the  soldiers  how  to  procure  their  State 
pay.  This  circular  was  sent  to  the  Mayor  of  every  city  and  the  Select 
men  of  every  town  in  the  State. 

The  Committee,  realizing  the  great  importance  of  special  treatment 
for  the  tropical  diseases  from  "which  the  returned  soldiers  suffered, 
and  which  were  likely  to  be  different  from  anything  in  the  experi 
ence  of  northern  doctors,  a  circular  was  sent  to  the  physicians  in 
many  of  the  smaller  towns.  This  circular  gave  an  account  of  some 
of  the  cases  which  had  already  come  under  the  care  of  the  doctors 
in  hospitals  on  the  coast  and  which  were  new  to  this  climate.  As  the 
soldiers  were  discharged  from  the  Boston  hospitals,  a  record  was 
sent  to  No.  n  Mt.  Vernon  Street,  that  their  cases  might  be  looked 
after,  as  many  of  the  men  suffered  one  or  more  relapses  after  they 
were  supposed  to  be  well.  When  these  discharged  soldiers  lived  out 
of  Boston,  the  branches  in  the  towns  where  they  lived  were  told  of 
their  discharge  and  their  cases  were  attended  to.  The  work  of  the 
Woman's  Committee  did  not  end  when  the  regiments  were  mustered 
out,  as  it  was  felt  to  be  very  important  to  increase  the  vigilance  over 
the  sick  men  when  they  were  no  longer  in  the  State's  employ.  The 
nurses  who  had  contracted  disease  in  Cuba,  Puerto  Rico,  and  the 
southern  camps  in  this  country  were  not  forgotten,  as  the  committee 
considered  that  they  had  served  their  country  as  truly  as  the  soldiers. 

In  conclusion  it  should  be  recorded  that,  apart  from  the  help  given 
to  the  soldiers,  the  labors  for  a  common  cause  have  united  the  women 
in  all  parts  of  the  State,  and  have  aroused  a  personal  interest  which 
will  not  easily  be  effaced.  MRS.  J.  ELLIOT  CABOT,  President, 

LUCY  LOWELI  ,  Secretary, 

For  the  Committee. 


Report  of  the   Women's  Committee.  123 


STATISTICS. 

Total  number  of  articles  sent  by  Women's  Committee  on  Supplies  of 

Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association  from  June  3,  1898,  to  Jan.  18, 
1899:  — 

Pajamas 9,942  suits 

Hospital  shirts     .          .         .          .                   .  8,552 

Surgical  shirts     .         .          .          .          .          .  3?27^ 

Day  shirts 784 

Night  shirts 360 

Bed  gowns          ...                   .  360 

Handkerchiefs 8,320 

Neck  cloths         .         .         .         .      -  .         .  645 

Abdominal  bands         .         .         .         .         •  26,822 

Underwear  (shirts  and  drawers)  .         .         .  650  suits 

Suspenders 302  pairs 

Canvas  hats         .         .         .         .         .         .  353 

Canvas  jackets.             .         .                            .  333 

Canvas  trousers  ....  329 

Socks '  6,875  pairs 

Slippers  and  sneakers 1,726     " 

Comfort  bags 9,282 

Steamer  bags  (to  be  used  on  "  Bay  State  " 
and  called  "Little    Sampsons")   contain 
ing  brush,  comb,  toothbrush,  face  cloth     .  368 
Clothes  brushes  ......  41 

Tooth  brushes     .         .         .         .     •    .         .  125 

Hairbrushes       ......  108 

Combs 75 

Face  cloths 3>4i4 

Mosquito  canopies       .....  10,806 

Sheets 8,209 

Pillowcases        ......  10,579 

Towels        .         •  ••"'..         .         .         .         .  12,844 


124 


Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 


Napkins     ....... 

Blankets 

Bed  spreads        .  ... 

Surgeons'  gowns 

Nurses'  aprons    ...... 

Clothes  bags       ...... 

Outfit  bags,  containing  one  pair  suspenders, 
one  abdominal  band,  one  pair  slippers,  one 
pair  stockings,  one  under  shirt,  one  pair 
drawers,  one  canvas  suit,  one  hat,  one  suit 
pajamas,  one  handkerchief,  one  brush,  one 
comb,  one  face  cloth,  one  tooth  brush  (in 
case)  .  .  .  . 

Outfit  bags  (empty)    ..... 

Sailor  bags  ...... 

Pneumatic  mattresses  .... 

Hair  mattresses  ...... 

Pillows        .  .  . 

Mattress  ticks     .          .'         .         .         . 

Pillow  ticks         ...  . 

Canvas  cots         ...... 

Hammocks          .... 

Fans  ........ 

Old  linen  and  clothing         .... 

Rolled  bandages 

Surgical  sponges 

Surgical  pads       . 

Rubber  blankets 

Magazines  and  literature,  including  Bibles     . 

Camp  stoves       ...... 

Jellies  and  preserves 


120 
607 
241 

12 
I32 


2OO 
3OO 
IOO 

5 
213 

799 

22 

I,OOO 
IOO 

2,971 


62  cases 
26    " 


2,799 

332 

64  cases 
12 
2,097  glasses 


SUNDRIES.  —  Scissors,  spools  of  cotton,  needles,  pins,  buttons,  soap, 
toilet  paper,  court  plaster,  twine,  stationery,  envelop  libraries,  vaseline, 
sponges,  absorbent  cotton,  surgical  gauze,  lint,  rubber  hot  water  bottles, 
ice  bags,  syringes,  bed  pans,  wash  basins,  feed  cups,  plaster,  hammocks. 


Report  of  the    Women's   Committee.  125 


CAMPS,   HOSPITALS,   REGIMENTS,  ETC.,   TO   WHICH    SUPPLIES 
WERE   SENT. 

2D  U.  S.  ARTILLERY  : 

Battery  A.  Camp  Wheeler,  Ala. 

Camp  Onward,  Ga. 

Santiago. 

Battery  B.  Fort  Adams,  R.  I. 

Battery  C.  Fort  Warren,  Boston. 

Battery  D.  Fort  Adams,  R.  I. 

Battery  G.  Camp  Cuba  Libre,  Long  Island  Head. 

Battery  I.  Camp  Onward,  Ga. 

Battery  K.  Winthrop. 

Battery  L.  Winthrop. 

Battery  M.  Winthrop. 

7TH  U.  S.  INFANTRY  : 

Company  A.  Dutch  Island,  Newport,  R.  I. 

Fort  Adams. 
Company  H.  Fort  Adams,  R.  I. 

4TH  U.  S.  LIGHT  ARTILLERY  : 

Battery  B.  Fort  Adams,  R.  I. 

Battery  F.  Fort  Adams,  R.  I. 

IST  U.  S.  CAVALRY.  Tampa,  Fla. 

IOTH  U.  S.  CAVALRY.          Camp  Wikoff,  Montauk. 

IST  REGT.  U.  S.  VOLUNTEER  ENGINEERS. 
Peekskill,  N.  Y. 
Porto  Rico. 

IST  REGT.  U.  S.  VOLUNTEER  SIGNAL  CORPS. 

Camp  Wheeler,  Huntsville,  Ala. 
South  Armory,  Boston. 

IST  MASS.  VOLS.  Salem,  Mass. 

Marblehead,  Mass. 


126  Massachusetts   Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

20  MASS.  VOLS.  Tampa,  Fla. 

Santiago,  Cuba. 

STH  MASS.  VOLS.  Camp  Dalton,  So.  Framingham,  Mass. 

-   Qamp  Meade,  Middletown,  Pa. 
Camp  Witherell,  Greenville,  S.  C. 

6TH  MASS.  VOLS.  Falls  Church,  Va. 

Porto  Rico. 

STH  MASS.  VOLS.  Chicamauga  Park,  Ga. 

Camp  Hamilton,  Lexington,  Ky. 
Americus,  Ga. 

9TH  MASS.  VOLS.  East  Armory,  Boston. 

Fall  Church,  Va. 
Santiago,  Cuba. 

CAMPS  : 

Chickering,  Salem,  Mass. 
Hamilton,  Lexington,  Ky. 
Onward,  Georgia. 
Wickoff,  Montauk  Point,  L.  I. 
Townsend,  Peekskill,  N.  Y. 

CLUBS  AND  SOCIETIES  (FOR  DISTRIBUTION)  : 
Woman's  Relief  Corps. 
Ladies'  Union  Charitable  Society,  Lawrence. 
Lend-a-Hand  Society,  Boston. 

FORTS  : 

Adams,  Newport,  R.  I. 
Constitution,  New  Castle. 
McPherson,  Atlanta,  Ga. 
Warren,  Boston  Harbor. 
Yates,  North  Dakota. 

HOMES  : 

Gwynn  Temporary,  Boston. 

Soldiers'  Home,  Chelsea. 


Report  of  the   Women's  Committee.  1 2  7 

HOSPITALS  : 

Beverly,  Beverly,  Mass. 

Carney,  South  Boston. 

Marine,  Chelsea,  Mass. 

City,  Boston. 

City,  Worcester. 

Floating,  Boston. 

Framingham,  Framingham. 

Franklin  County,  Greenfield. 

Holyoke  City,  Holyoke. 

Homoeopathic,  Boston. 

Josiah  Simpson  General,  Newport,  Va. 

Long  Island,  Boston. 

Marine,  Charlestown  Navy  Yard. 

Massachusetts  General,  Boston. 

Cooley  Dickinson,  Northampton. 

Salem,  Salem. 

Second  Division,  yth  Army  Corps,  Jacksonville,  Fla. 

St.  Peters,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Third  Division,  Camp  Hamilton,  Lexington,  Ky. 

Third  Division,  Camp  Cuba  Libre,  Jacksonville,  Fla. 

U.  S.,  Fortress  Monroe. 

U.  S.  General,  Fort  McPherson,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

U.  S.  General,  Fort  Meyer,  Va. 

U.  S.  General,  Ponce,  Puerto  Rico. 

HOSPITAL  SHIPS  : 

"Bay  State,"  Boston. 
"  Lewiston,"  Boston. 
"  Olivette,"  Boston. 
"  Solace,"  Brooklyn. 

INSTITUTIONS  : 

Boston  Board  of  Health. 

Boston  Dispensary.  .  .     . 


128  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

M.  V.  A.  A.  BRANCHES  FOR  DISTRIBUTION  TO  RETURNED  SOLDIERS, 
Lowell.  Salem. 

Marblehead .  Weston. 

Peabody.  Worcester. 

NAVY  YARDS  : 

Marine  Barracks,  Charlestown,  Mass. 

Red  Cross  Society,  58  Williams  St.,  New  York. 

SHIPS  : 

U.  S.  S.  "Amphitrite." 
U.  S.  S.  "  Annapolis." 
U.  S.  S.  "Castine." 
U.  S.  S.  "Detroit." 
U.  S.  S.  "  Essex." 
U.  S.  S.  "Helena." 
U.  S.  S.  "  Lancaster." 
U.  S.  S.  "Machias." 
U.  S.  S.  "  Marblehead." 
U.  S.  S.  "Marietta." 
U.  S.  S.  "  Wilmington." 


Report  of  the   Women 's   Committee. 


129 


PLACES   AND   ORGANIZATIONS   FROM   WHICH   SUPPLIES   WERE 

RECEIVED. 

(The  work  has  been  widespread  and  far  reaching,  and  while  this  list 
has  been  prepared  with  great  care  it  is  inevitable  that  some  mistakes 
should  have  been  made.  If  any  mistakes  or  omissions  have  occurred, 
the  Committee  express  their  regrets  and  wish  to  testify  as  to  their 
appreciation  of  the  value  of  the  contributions  sent  from  all  parts  of  this 
State  and  from  other  States.  Many  organizations  sent  money  directly 
to  the  Treasurer  of  the  Association  and  gave  supplies  through  other 
associations,  and,  therefore,  are  not  mentioned  here.) 


Acton. 

Acushnet. 

Adams. 

Allerton. 

All  Souls  Unitarian  Church  (Rox- 

bury) . 
Allston. 
Amesbury. 
Amherst. 
Andover. 
Arlington. 
Arlington  Heights. 
Ashby. 
Ashburnham. 
Ashfield. 
Ashland. 
Athol. 
Attleboro. 
Auburndale. 
Ayer. 

Baldwinsville. 

Baptist  Church  (Medford) . 
Barnstable. 
Barre. 


Beach  Bluff. 

Bedford. 

Belmont. 

Berkeley. 

Berkeley  Temple  (Boston), 

Berkshire. 

Beverly. 

Beverly  Farms. 

Billerica. 

Bolton. 

Boston. 

Bourne. 

Boylston. 

Braintree. 

Brewster. 

Bridgewater. 

Brighton. 

Brockton. 

Brookfield. 

Brookline. 

Buzzard's  Bay. 

Byfield. 

Cambridge. 

Cambridgeport. 


130 


Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 


Canton. 

Cataumet. 

Centreville. 

Charlestown. 

Chatham. 

Chelmsford. 

Chelsea. 

Cheshire. 

Chesterfield. 

Chestnut  Hill. 

Chicop.ee. 

Children's  Hospital  (Boston) . 

City  Hospital  (Boston). 

Clifton. 

Cliftondale. 

Clinton. 

Cochituate. 

Cohasset. 

Colonial  Dames  of  America. 

Commonwealth  of  Mass,  (by  State 

Arsenal,  Framingham). 
Concord. 
Con  way. 
Cottage  City. 
Cotuit. 

Crescent  Hill  Sewing  Circle. 
Dalton. 
Danvers. 

Daughters  of  the  Revolution. 
Daughters  of  the  American  Revo_ 

lution. 
Dedham. 
Deerfield. 
Dennis. 
Dennisport. 
Dighton. 


Dorchester. 
Douglas. 
Dover. 
Dracut. 
Duxbury. 
East  Boston. 
East  Bridgewater. 
East  Brookfield. 
East  Dennis. 
East  Douglas. 
East  Fairhaven. 
East  Freetown. 
East  Gloucester. 
Eastham. 
Easthampton. 
East  Longmeadow. 
East  Milton. 
East  Pepperell. 
East  Walpole. 
East  Weymouth. 
Edgartown. 
Enfield. 
Essex. 
Everett. 
Fairhaven. 
Fall  River. 
Falmouth. 
Fitchburg. 
Foxboro. 
Framingham. 
Franklin. 
Freetown. 
Gardner. 
Georgetown. 

Girls'    Blue   Ribbon  Band    (Fan 
euil). 


Report  of  the    Women's   Committee. 


Girls'  Friendly  Society. 

Gloucester. 

Grace  Episcopal  Church  (Law 
rence). 

Graf  ton. 

Granby. 

Great  Barrington. 

Green  St.  Congregational  Church 
(Charlestown). 

Greenfield. 

Groton. 

Groveland. 

Hadley. 

Hamilton. 

Hancock. 

Hanover. 

Harvard. 

Harvard  Co-operative ^ij  Society 
(Cambridge). 

Harwich. 

Harvvichport. 

Haverhill. 

Hicksville. 

Highlandville. 

Hingham. 

Hinsdale. 

Holbrook. 

Holliston. 

Holyoke. 

Hopedale. 

Hopkinton. 

Housatonic  and  Van  Deusen. 

Hudson. 

Hull. 

Hyannis. 

Hyde  Park. 


Instructive  District  Nursing  Asso 
ciation. 

Ipswich. 

Jamaica  Plain. 

King's  Daughters. 

Kingston. 

Ladies'  Commission  on  Sunday- 
School  Books  (Boston). 

Lancaster. 

Lanesboro. 

Lawrence. 

Lee. 

Leicester. 

Lend  a  Hand  Clubs. 

Leominster. 

Lexington. 

Lincoln. 

Longmeadow. 

Long  Plain. 

Louisa  Alcott  Club. 

Lowell. 

Ludlow. 

Lynn. 

Lynnfield  Centre. 

Magnolia. 

Maiden. 

Manchester. 

Mansfield. 

Maplewood. 

Marblehead. 

Marblehead  Neck. 

Marlboro. 

Marion. 

Marston's  Mills. 

Martha's  Vineyard. 

Mass.  Gen.  Hospital  (Boston). 


I32 


Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 


Mattapoisett. 

Mayflower  Club  (Boston). 

Maynard. 

Medfield. 

Medford. 

Melrose. 

Mendon. 

Metcalf. 

Methodist       Episcopal       Church 

(Temple  Street,  Boston). 
Methuen. 
Middleboro. 
Milford. 
Milton. 

Mite-box  Circle,  Nahant. 
Mittineague. 
Montague. 

Mt.  Vernon  Church  (Boston). 
Nahant. 
Nantucket. 
Natick. 
Needham. 

Needlework  Guild  of  America. 
Neponset. 
New  Bedford. 
Newburyport. 
New  Salem. 
Newton. 
Newton  Centre. 
Newton  Federation   of   Women's 

Clubs. 

Newtonville. 
North  Adams. 
North  Amherst. 
Northampton. 
North  Andover. 


North  Attleboro. 

North  Beverly. 

Northboro. 

Northbridge  Centre. 

North  Brookfield. 

North  Cambridge. 

North  Cohasset. 

North  Easton. 

North  End  Mission  (Boston), 

North  Falmouth. 

North  Scituate. 

North  Tewksbury. 

North  Truro. 

Norton. 

Norwell. 

Orange.  • 

Orleans. 

Osterville. 

Otter  River. 

Palmer. 

Peabody. 

Pepperell. 

Perry  Hill. 

Phillips  Beach. 

Pittsfield. 

Plymouth. 

Plympton. 

Ponkapoag. 

Provincetown. 

Quincy. 

Randolph. 

Raynham. 

Reading. 

Rehoboth. 

Revere. 

Richmond. 


Report  of  the    Women's   Committee. 


133 


Rochdale. 

Rockland. 

Rockport. 

Rockville. 

Roslindale. 

Rowley. 

Roxbury. 

Royalston. 

Rutland. 

Sagamore  and  Bourne  dale. 

Salem. 

Sandwich. 

Saxonville. 

Scituate. 

Sharon. 

Sheffield. 

Shelburne  Centre. 

Shelburne  Falls. 

Sherborn. 

Sherborn  Reformatory  (Prison  for 

Women) . 
Shirley. 
Shrewsbury. 
Somerville. 
South  Acton. 
Southboro. 
South  Boston. 
South  Braintree. 
South  Byfield. 
South  Dartmouth. 
South  Dennis. 
South  Egremont. 
South  Framingham. 
South  Friendly  Society  (Boston). 
South  Hadley. 
South  Hadley  Falls. 


South  Hanson. 
South  Hingham. 
South  Lancaster. 
South  Medford. 
South  wick. 
South  Yarmouth. 
Spencer. 
Springfield. 
Stanstead  (Canada). 
State      Industrial    School    (Lan- 
.  caster). 
Sterling. 
Stockbridge. 
Stoneham. 
Stoughton. 
Stow. 

Swampscott. 
Taunton. 
Templeton. 
Tewksbury. 
Topsfield. 
Truro. 

Turner's  Falls. 
Tyngsboro. 
United     Congregational  \  Church 

(Lawrence). 
Upton. 
Uxbridge. 
Van  Deusenville. 
Vineyard  Haven. 
Wakefield. 
Waltham  Hospital. 
Waltham. 
Wareham. 
Warren. 
Warren  Council,  Royal  Arcanum. 


134 


Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 


Watertown. 
Wayland. 
Webster. 
Wellfleet. 
Wellesley. 
Wellesley  Hills. 
Wenham. 
West  Acton. 
West  Barnstable. 
Westboro. 
West  Boylston. 
West  Brookfield. 
West  Dennis. 
West  Falmouth. 
Westfield. 
Westford. 
West  Gardner. 
West  Longmeadow. 
West  Medford. 
Westminster. 
West  Newbury. 
West  Newton. 
West  Nowell. 
Weston. 

Westport  Factory. 
West  Roxbury. 
West  Springfield. 


West  Upton. 

Westwood. 

West  Yarmouth. 

Weymouth. 

Whately. 

Whitinsville. 

Whitman. 

Wilbraham. 

Williamsburg. 

Wilmington. 

Winchester. 

Winthrop. 

Woburn. 

Wollaston. 

Women  of  Boston  Alms  House. 

Woman's  Christian  Temperance 
Union. 

Woman's  Relief  Corps. 

Woman's  Journal. 

Woman's  Suffrage  Association. 

Women  Clerks'  Benefit  Associa 
tion  (Roxbury). 

Woods  Holl. 

Worcester. 

Wrentham. 

Yarmouth. 

Yarmouthport. 


MAINE  : 


Bailey  Island. 
Bangor. 
Bar  Harbor. 
Brunswick. 
Camden. 


Castine. 
Dennisville. 
East  Machias. 
Eastport. 
Kennebunk  Beach, 


Report  of  the    Women's  Committee* 


135 


MAINE  —  Continued. 

Kennebunkport. 
Kittery. 
Portland. 
Rockland. 


Rockport. 

Wells. 

York  Harbor. 


NEW  HAMPSHIRE  : 

Chocorua. 

Exeter. 

Gilsum. 

Greenville. 

Intervale. 

Jaffrey. 


Keene. 
Manchester. 
Peterborough. 
Portsmouth. 
West  Ossipee. 
West  Rindge. 


VERMONT : 

Brandon. 
Derby  Line. 


East  Hardwick. 
Royalton. 


RHODE  ISLAND  : 
Newport. 


CONNECTICUT  : 


Children's  Circle  of  Busy  Bees.        Pomfret. 
Guilford.  Suffield. 


APPENDIX. 


CONSTRUCTION  OF  MASSACHUSETTS    HOSPITAL 
SHIP   "BAY  STATE/'* 

MR.  J.  T.  BOYD,  BOSTON,  Consulting  Engineer. 

IN  fitting  out  the  "•  Bay  State,"  the  work  was  directly  under  the 
charge  of  the  Board  of  Control,  —  Major  Henry  L.  Higginson,  Mr. 
Robert  Burnett,  and  Dr.  Burrell,  —  receiving  the  immediate  oversight 
of  Mr.  Burnett  and  Dr.  Burrell,  and,  in  the  absence  of  Dr.  Burrell,  of 
Dr.  Bradford,  Dr.  Manahan  being  the  resident  doctor  at  the  works, 
and  the  principal  assistant  in  deciding  on  the  work. 

The  ice  machinery  was  ordered  by  Mr.  Robert  Burnett,  and  I  think, 
without  question,  is  one  of  the  best  small  plants  that  has  ever  been 
fitted  in  a  vessel. 

The  sterilizer  for  the  bedding,  etc.,  was  ordered  by  Dr.  Durgin,  and 
proved  a  success. 

The  fitting  out  of  the  operating-room,  both  in  general  lay-out  and  in 
detail,  was  the  work  of  Dr.  Bradford  and  Dr.  Manahan. 

The  laundry  machinery  was  decided  on  by  Dr.  Manahan. 

The  berthing  details  were  decided  by  Dr.  Bradford,  Prof.  Hollis  and 
myself.  Dr.  Manahan  assisted  in  the  arrangement  of  these  wards  very 
much. 

The  storerooms,  clinical  laboratory,  apothecary  storeroom,  and  store 
rooms  for  surgical  apparatus  were  arranged  by  the  doctors  who  had 
charge  of  these  different  departments. 

The  general  arrangement  of  the  ventilating,  lighting,  water  system  I 
arranged  in  consultation  with  Prof.  Hollis. 

The  arrangement  and  detail  of  water-closets  were  discussed  by 
almost  every  one,  and  finally  settled  by  Dr.  Burrell  and  myself. 

The  very  best  feeling  prevailed  while  this  work  was  in  progress,  and 
there  was  no  clashing,  which,  I  think,  is  one  of  the  principal  reasons 
why  the  work  was  done  so  quickly  and  so  well. 

*  Read  before  the  Boston  Society  for  Medical  Improvement,  Nov.  21,  1898. 


14°  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

For  comparison  I  give  the  dimensions  of  three  steamers  fitted  as 
hospital  ships  by  the  United  States  :  — 

Creole.  —  Crowell  Line.  Constructed  of  steel.  358  feet  longr 
44  feet  beam,  24  feet  deep.  Engines,  28",  44",  74"  by  54"  stroke. 
Built  in  1896  by  Newport  News  Ship  Building  Co.  Gross  tonnage, 
3,801  ;  net  tonnage,  2,622.  Fitted  as  a  hospital  ship  for  the 
United  States  Navy,  and  named  the  "  Solace." 

John  Englis.  —  Maine  S.  S.  Co.  Constructed  of  steel.  290 
feet  8  inches  long,  46  feet  beam,  21  feet  deep.  Built  in  1896  by 
the  Delaware  River  Iron  Ship  Building  and  Engine  Works.  Gross 
tonnage,  3,095  ;  net  tonnage,  1,987.  Fitted  as  a  hospital  ship  for 
the  United  States  Army  and  named  the  "  Relief." 

Olivette.  —  Plant  S.  S.  Co.  Constructed  of  iron.  274  feet  3 
inches  long,  35  feet  2  inches  beam,  n  feet  9  inches  deep.  Built 
in  1887  by  Wm.  Cramp  &  Sons  Ship  &  Engine  Building  Co. 
Gross  tonnage,  1,611;  net  tonnage,  1,105.  Re^  cross  hospital 
ship. 

What  is  known  as  the  gross  registered  tonnage  of  a  vessel  is  the 
internal  capacity  in  cubic  feet  divided  by  100.  The  net  registered 
tonnage  is  the  capacity  less  the  cubic  space  occupied  by  the 
engines,  boilers,  coal  bunkers,  etc. 

The  steamship  "  Bowden,"  afterwards  '4  Marmion,"  was  built  by 
Scott  &  Co.,  of  Bowling,  Scotland,  in  1886,  and  was  used  in  the  fruit 
business  between  Jamaica  and  Boston  until  purchased  by  the  Massa 
chusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association,  by  whom  her  name  was  changed  to 
"Bay  State."  (Fig.  i.)  The  general  dimensions  of  the  ship  are: 
Length,  200  feet;  beam,  27  feet;  depth,  12  feet  7  inches;  gross  ton 
nage,  776;  net,  388.  She  had  cabin  accommodations  for  a  few  pas 
sengers.  In  fitting  for  a  hospital  ship  the  vessel  was  first  cleaned 
thoroughly ;  the  ballast,  which  consisted  of  granite  blocks,  was  removed,, 
the  ceiling  taken  up,  and  the  iron  work  of  hull,  both  inside  and  outside, 
chipped,  cleaned,  and  painted.  New  ballast  of  pig-iron  was  put  in,  the 
old  ceiling  was  thrown  away  and  new  fitted.  The  main  deck,  now 
termed  the  hospital  deck,  was  smoothed  up  and  sheathed  with  seven- 
eighths-inch  tongued  and  grooved  stock  forward  and  aft  of  engine  and 


Construction  of  Massachusetts  Hospital  Ship  "Bay  State"       141 

boiler  space.  This  deck  was  painted.  After  the  first  trip  the  passage 
ways  were  covered  with  ribbed  rubber.  At  sides  of  engine  and  boiler- 
bulkheads  the  iron  deck  was  covered  with  cement  and  asphalt. 

The  forward  ward  extends  from  bulkhead  forward  of  boiler  space  to 
bulkhead  at  forecastle  ;  length  about  66  feet ;  average  width  24  feet ; 
fitted  for  berthing  fifty  patients  when  two  frames  are  used  to  a  section. 
Two  water-closets  and  one  sink  for  this  ward  are  located  on  port  side, 
forward  end.  One  bath-tub  and  two  wash-bowls  are  located  on  centre 
line  of  ship  near  after  end  of  the  ward. 

The  after  ward  extends  from  bulkhead  aft  of  engine-room  to  extreme 
stern  of  vessel;  length  about  68  feet;  average  width  24  feet;  fitted 
for  berthing  fifty  patients  when  two  frames  are  used  to  a  section.  Four 
additional  frames  were  placed  in  the  extreme  end  known  as  the 
lazarette.  Three  water-closets  and  two  sinks  are  located  on  port  side  ; 
the  bulkhead  for  isolated  ward  divides  the  water-closet  room,  so  that 
one  closet  and  one  sink  comes  in  isolated  ward.  The  isolated  ward 
bulkhead  is  about  48  feet  aft  of  engine-room  bulkhead  with  openings 
at  port  and  starboard  sides  which  can  be  closed  with  plates.  This 
ward  has  space  for  eighteen  patients. 

The  starboard  side  of  deck  between  the  wards  is  fitted  with  four 
staterooms  for  baymen.  The  passageway  connecting  wards  is  of  suffi 
cient  width  to  allow  for  transfer  of  patients.  The  port  side  is  fitted 
with  operating-room,  sterilizing- room,  and  laundry.  The  laundry  has 
door  opening  from  the  after  ward.  The  sterilizing-room  is  entered 
through  the  laundry.  Materials  to  be  sterilized  can  also  be  put  into 
the  room  from  an  opening  in  the  deck,  which  is  closed  by  a  water 
tight  plate.  The  operating-room  is  entered  from  the  forward  ward. 

The  forward  lower  hold  contains  the  coal  bunkers  for  main  boiler. 
From  coal  bunker  forward,  the  hold  is  divided  by  a  deck  about  nine 
feet  below  the  hospital  deck,  called  the  orlop  deck.  Below  this  deck 
is  fitted  storerooms  for  ship  stores.  These  rooms  are  built  of  wood 
slabs,  with  about  one  inch  spacing,  fitted  with  doors.  Openings  to. 
passageway  between  these  storerooms  are  through  hatches  in  the  orlop 
deck. 

The  orlop  deck  is  divided  with  substantial  wire  netting  into  rooms 
for  apothecary  stores,  clinical  laboratory,  surgical  apparatus,  linen 


142  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

stores,  room  for  storing  clothing  belonging  to  patients,  and  the  remain 
der  fitted  with  frames  for  twenty  patients. 

The  after  lower  hold  is  fitted  with  ice-making  machinery,  cold- 
storage  rooms,  ice  tanks,  ice-room,  and  fresh-water  tanks.  The  ice- 
making  machinery  is  separated  from  the  rest  of  the  hold  by  steel 
bulkheads,  and  the  entrance  to  it  is  through  the  engine-room.  This 
machinery  was  furnished  by  the  Hendrick  Manufacturing  Company,  of 
Carbondale,  Pa.,  of  the  type  where  the  brine  is  cooled  and  taken  from 
the  cooler  through  the  brine  tanks.  By  this  process  no  ammonia  is 
taken  outside  of  the  space  allowed  for  the  machinery,  making  thereby 
one  of  the  best  plants  for  ship  use. 

The  forecastle  is  fitted  with  iron  berthing  frames  for  the  men,  and 
with  two  mess  tables.  Berthing  capacity  for  eighteen  men. 

The  upper  or  main  deck  has  steel  deck-house  forward,  containing 
six  rooms.  These  rooms  were  occupied  by  the  doctors  and  two  of  the 
engineers.  On  the  port  side  forward  of  this  house  are  two  water-closets 
enclosed  in  a  small  steel  house,  which  house  also  contains  space  for  oils, 
paints,  etc. 

The  main  deck-house,  which  also  covers  the  engine  and  boiler  space, 
contains  the  first  and  second  mates'  room,  two  bath-rooms  —  one  fitted 
with  bath-tub,  and  one  with  shower-bath  —  with  floors  of  asphalt.  At 
the  aft  end  of  this  house  is  the  galley  with  dumb-waiter  connecting 
with  hospital  ward.  (Fig.  2.)  The  aft  house  on  this  deck  contains 
five  staterooms,  two  pantries,  a  cabin,  and  a  water-closet.  Three  of 
Uie  five  staterooms  were  used  by  the  female  nurses. 

The  pilot  house  and  captain's  room  are  on  the  bridge  deck,  which 
extends  from  forward  end  of  forward  house  to  stern  of  vessel.  A 
strong  galvanized  rail  with  awning  stanchions  is  fitted  on  this  deck. 
Hatches  are  arranged  over  the  hatches  to  the  wards  so  that  patients 
can  be  lifted  from  the  hospital  wards  to  the  deck.  Attached  to  the 
beams  are  hammock  hooks  for  swinging  hammocks.  There  is  an  awn 
ing  to  cover  this  entire  upper  deck.  (Fig.  3.) 

Sanitary  Arrangements.  —  The  waterways  at  sides  of  wards  are 
cemented.  Scuppers,  four  inches  in  diameter,  are  fitted.  All  water- 
closets  are  of  the  Hercules  type  with  tanks  for  flushing.  The 
closets  are  placed  so  that  the  soil  pipes  lead  through  side  of  ship 


>      — 

<     -t- 


Construction  of  Massachusetts  Hospital  Ship  "Bay  State"      143 

above  water  line,  and  are  fitted  with  storm  valves.  The  water  service 
is  from  a  pump  which  runs  continuously,  the  overflow  from  tanks  flow 
ing  through  the  closets.  The  baths  are  arranged  with  Gegenstrom 
heaters  except  the  shower-baths.  All  plumbing  is  open. 

Ventilation.  —  A  large  blower  is  located  in  upper  engine-room.  The 
suction  pipes  extend  through  the  after  and  forward  wards,  with  branch 
to  lower  between  decks  forward.  Openings  in  pipes  are  covered  with 
wire  netting,  and  dampers  are  fitted  to  regulate  the  draught.  The  air 
is  changed  very  rapidly.  The  discharge  pipe  extends  up  through 
engine-room  skylight  with  delivery  some  distance  above  bridge  deck. 

The  ice-machine  room  is  ventilated  by  a  pressure  fan,  outlet  pipes 
running  through  upper  and  bridge  decks. 

About  fifty- four  electric  fans  are  located  throughout  the  wards,  and 
one  in  each  stateroom. 

Hatches.  —  The  hatch  openings  on  main  deck  have  iron  frames  with 
canvas  covers,  which  are  to  be  used  in  heavy  rain  storms.  Hatch 
covers  of  wood  are  fitted  so  that  in  case  of  a  violent  storm  they  can 
be  put  in  and  battened  down. 

Lighting.  —  A  direct  connected  engine  and  dynamo  are  located  in 
the  lower  engine-room.  The  vessel  is  wired  throughout.  There  are 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  lights.  The  fittings  for  lights  are  the  same 
as  for  electric  fans. 

Fire  Service.  —  Connection  on  deck  from  single  pump,  and  outlets 
on  water  service  pipes  with  hose  to  reach  to  any  part  of  the  vessel. 

General.  —  Vessel  is  fitted  with  steam  windlass  and  steam  steering 
gear,  one  alco-vapor  launch,  four  life-boats,  two  rafts,  and  about  one 
hundred  and  seventy  life  preservers. 

The  details  of  construction  are  all  carefully  worked  out.  All  berth 
frames  are  of  one  size,  24  by  74  inches,  and  are  interchangeable.  The 
substitutes  for  side  boards  for  berthsj  are  rods  clamped  to  standards  by 
a  yoke.  The  serving  tables  are  conveniently  located  in  the  wards,  as 
are  also  the  closets  for  linen,  etc.  The  inside  and  outside  of  vessel 
received  several  coats  of  paint,  and  the  final  coats  in  wards  were  of 
enamel  white. 

There  are  side  ports  at  main  deck,  two  on  starboard  and  two  on 
port  side,  through  which  patients  can  be  brought  on  board  or  taken 
ashore  directly  from  the  wards. 


144  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

Appended  are  memoranda  giving  general  dimensions  of  vessel,  sizes 
of  engines,  etc. :  — 

Principal  Dimensions  of  Hull.  —  Length  between  perpendicu 
lars  199.5  feet.  Breadth,  extreme,  27.1  feet.  Depth,  19.8  feet. 
Tonnage,  measurement,  gross,  776.60;  net,  388.30. 

Main  Engines.  —  20",  32",  53"  diameter  of  cylinder  x  36"  stroke. 

Main  Boilers.  —  Two,  Scotch  type,  n'  5"  diameter  x  10'  long. 
Two  36"  furnaces  in  each  boiler;  143  pounds  steam. 

Auxiliary  or  Donkey  Boiler.  —  One  upright  tubular,  60"  inside 
diameter,  9'  high,  54"  diameter  furnace  of  150  pounds  steam 
pressure. 

Windlass.  —  No.  4  Hyde  6"  x  8",  double  engines. 

AUXILIARY  MACHINERY. 

Pumps.  —  Bilge  and  ballast  pump,  Knowles  duplex,  yj"  x  4j"  x 
10".  Deck  and  fire  pump,  Knowles  single,  7"  x  4"  x  7".  Dis 
tiller  circulating,  Blake  duplex,  5^'  x  5"  x  6".  Donkey  feed  pump, 
Blake  single,  7^"  x  4^"  x  10".  Fresh  water  distributing,  Blake 
single,  6J"  x  4-J"  x  8".  Evaporator  feed  pump,  Blake  single,  3"  x 
if  x  3".  Ice-machine  circulating,  Blake  special  duplex,  6"  x  5j" 
x  6" ' .  Ice-machine  brine,  Deane  duplex,  6"  x  5  j"  x  6". 

Dynamo  and  Engine.  —  Sturtevant  type,  direct  connected. 
Engine,  5"  x  4"  double  vertical,  575  R.  P.  M.  Dynamo  multipolar, 
12,000  watts  at  no  volts. 

Evaporator  and  Distiller  Plant.  —  James  Reilly  Repair  and  Sup 
ply  Co.  Capacity,  3,000  gallons  in  twenty-four  hours. 

Ventilating  Fans.  —  One  70"  exhaust  fan,  Sturtevant,  for  ward 
ventilation.  One  40"  pressure  fan,  Sturtevant,  for  ice-machine 
room  ventilation. 

Ice  Machine.  —  Capacity,  five  tons  in  twenty-four  hours.  Engine 
cylinder,  single,  loj"  diameter  x  15"  stroke.  Compressor  cylinder, 
single,  7j"  diameter  x  15"  stroke. 

Coal  capacity,  167  tons. 

Draught,  loaded,  9'  forward,  13'  8"  aft. 

Tanks  t  Fresh  Water.  —  Fore-peak  supply  and  trimming  [tank, 


Construction  of  Massachusetts  Hospital  Ship  ''Bay  State"       145 

8,000  gallons  capacity.  After-peak  supply  and  trimming  tank, 
2,500  gallons  capacity.  Two  supply  tanks  in  after  hold,  total, 
2,300  gallons  capacity.  One  pressure  tank  for  running  water 
head.  250 'gallons  capacity.  Ballast  tank  bottom  from  aft  engine- 
room  bulkhead,  48  tons  capacity. 

Tanks,  Oil.  —  One  tank  for  vapor  launch  supply,  210  gallons. 
Three  engine  supply  tanks,  58,  58  and  55, —  171  gallons. 

Sterilizing  Machine  for  Bedding,  etc.  —  4' 6"  diameter  x  6'  6" 
long. 

LAUNDRY  MACHINERY.     (FiG.  6.) 

One  4"  x  4"  steam  engine.  One  wooden  machine,  22"  diameter, 
26"  long,  rev.  160.  One  power  wringer,  rolls,  3%"  diameter,  16" 
long. 


MEDICAL  EQUIPMENT.* 

BY  E.  H.  BRADFORD,  M.  D.,  BOSTON. 

THE  equipment  of  the  hospital  ship  "  Bay  State  "  was  planned  with 
the  idea  that  she  should  be  ready  for  whatever  emergency  the  chances 
of  war  might  bring,  with  the  chief  idea,  however,  that  she  should  serve 
as  a  hospital  transport  for  the  transferring  of  the  sick  to  mainland  hos 
pitals  and  with  preparations  only  for  short  trips.  As  she  was  visiting  a 
country  where  yellow  fever  was  to  be  expected,  it  was  necessary  that 
her  construction  should  be  such  that  it  could  be  easily  and  thoroughly 
cleaned  and  fumigated.  Wood  construction  was  therefore  discarded  and 
ironwork  substituted.  It  was  necessary  that  the  ventilation  should  be 
good ;  that  facilities  for  making  ice,  for  furnishing  pure  water  under  all 
circumstances,  and  for  furnishing  delicacies  for  the  sick  be  provided. 

An  operating-room,  for  any  emergency  which  might  arrive,  was 
demanded.  Although  it  was  not  anticipated  that  much  surgery  would 
be  needed  upon  the  ship,  preparations  were  made  for  thorough  asepsis 
and  antisepsis,  in  case  any  was  required.  (Fig.  12.) 

It  was  also  thought  advisable  to  arrange  that  the  patient  could,  if 
necessary,  be  transferred  from  the  ship  to  land  without  removal  from 
the  frame  which  serves  as  a  bed.  To  make  this  possible,  the  gas-pipe 
berth  frames,  used  for  sailors  in  many  of  the  recently  built  yachts  and 
steamers,  were  made  detachable.  In  place  of  the  canvas  stretched  on 
the  frame  (making  of  it  a  flat  hammock),  a  wire  mattress  was  used, 
secured  to  both  ends  of  the  frame  by  means  of  screw-threaded  rods 
fastened  to  the  ends  of  the  mattress  on  one  side,  and  on  the  other  to 
the  cross  rods  of  the  frame.  Any  degree  of  tension  of  the  mattress 
was  secured  by  means  of  a  screw  nut,  and,  if  necessary,  the  wire  mat 
tress  could  be  removed.  On  the  wire  mattress  a  coir  (African  hair) 
mattress  was  placed.  The  frames  were  secured  at  the  four  corners  by 
socket  castings  to  four  uprights  fastened  to,  but  detachable  from,  sock 
ets  screwed  to  the  floor  and  ceiling.  On  these  uprights  suitable 
castings  slid  (secured  by  a  pin  at  a  required  point),  furnished  with  a 

*  Read  before  the  Boston  Society  for  Medical  Improvement,  Nov.  21,  1898. 


Medical  Equipment.  147 

strong  hook,  one  at  each  of  the  four  posts.  On  these  hooks  the  mat 
tress  frame  was  placed.  The  construction  of  the  frame  was  such  that 
it  fitted  the  hooks  in  such  a  way  as  to  give  no  rattle  or  motion.  The 
frames  were  sufficiently  wide  for  an  adult  male.  They  could  be  readily 
removed  from  the  back  by  lifting  from  the  hooks,  and  if  a  patient  lay 
upon  them,  the  individual  could  be  carried  wherever  it  was  desired 
without  being  removed  from  his  bed.  To  prevent  the  patient  from 
being  thrown  out,  in  case  of  rolling  of  the  ship,  a  side  rod  was  placed 
and  secured  at  any  desired  height  to  each  of  the  four  uprights  by  passing 
through  a  screw  clamp.  Where  more  than  one  was  necessary,  a  second 
one  also  could  be  placed,  which  would  prevent  the  patient  from  slip 
ping  through,  if  such  was  needed.  Cord  lashings  were  also  used  for 
lashing  the  rod  to  the  frame,  to  prevent  the  patient  slipping  under  the 
rod.  The  upright  rods  were  hollow  and  three  inches  in  diameter ;  the 
frame  made  of  gas-piping  an  inch  and  a  half  in  thickness.  The  side 
rods  were  three-quarters  of  an  inch  solid  rods.  (Fig.  8.) 

The  arrangement  of  the  berth  stacks  varied  in  the  two  wards  accord 
ing  to  the  space,  but  in  both,  aisles  were  left  sufficient  in  width  for  the 
removal  of  the  patients.  Arrangements  were  made  for  two  or  three 
tiers  of  frames  ;  three  if  the  vessel  were  crowded,  and  two  under  ordin 
ary  circumstances.  The  center  of  the  ward  over  the  hatchway  was 
partially  floored  in,  and  a  serving  table  of  wood  was  placed  upon  the 
hatchway.  (Fig.  9.) 

A  hoistway  was  made  with  arrangements  for  hoisting  the  frames 
through  the  hatchway  upon  the  deck,  if  that  was  desirable.  The  sinks 
and  water-closets  were  separated  from  the  wards  by  an  iron  sheathing, 
making  a  separate  room.  Standing  bowls  and  bath-tubs,  screened  by 
rubber  hangings,  were  placed  in  each  ward,  supplied  with  Gegenstrom 
water  temperature  regulators.  (Figs.  10  and  n.) 

The  operating-room  was  necessarily  small,  and  was  arranged  so  that 
the  operating  facilities  should  be  in  the  most  compact  form.  Instru 
ments  and  dressings  were  placed  in  a  closet  with  iron  wicker-work 
doors,  and  shelves  of  the  same  construction.  Iron  wickerwork  cages 
were  also  placed  for  bottles  of  sterilized  water.  Iron  frames  were 
hinged  to  the  wall,  into  which  agate-ware  trays  could  be  placed  for 
dressings  or  surgical  instruments.  These  hinged  frames  could  be 


148  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

folded  up  against  the  wall  when  not  in  use.  The  same  is  true  of  places 
for  basins  placed  over  an  iron  sink,  and  for  sterilized  solutions  for  the 
surgeon's  hands.  (Fig.  12.) 

The  operating-table  consisted  of  an  iron-piping  frame  resting  when 
in  use  on  two  iron-pipe  stands  which  were  secured  at  the  sides  by  side 
rods  clamped  on  to  the  stands.  Across  the  frame  were  placed  flat 
plates  of  nickel  plated  steel,  four  inches  wide,  and  long  enough  to  be 
hooked  over  the  sides  of  the  frame.  When  the  plates  were  placed 
together  a  smooth  surface  was  furnished,  on  "which  a  patient  could  be 
placed,  and  which  could  be  made  aseptic,  each  plate  being  sterilized 
before  operation  by  steam  sterilization.  Separating  the  plates  per 
mitted  irrigation  fluid  to  drain  from  the  surface  of  the  operating-table 
to  a  chute  below,  made  by  securing  a  rubber  sheet  to  the  sides  of  the 
frame  cut  so  that  it  would  slope  into  a  pail  below.  Two  operating- 
tables  were  furnished,  to  be  taken  apart  and  stacked  at  the  side  of  the 
room  when  not  used ;  a  steam  sterilizer  for  sterilizing  dressings,  a  filter 
for  water,  and  an  electric  water  heating  arrangement  for  boiling  surgi 
cal  instruments,  an  asphalt  floor  with  a  side  gutter  and  escape  pipe,  an 
arrangement  for  hanging  sterilized  sheets  to  the  walls  of  the  operating- 
room,  permitted  as  complete  asepsis  as  was  possible.  The  water  fau 
cets  were  arranged  to  work  with  the  foot,  instead  of  the  hand. 

The  ventilation  of  the  wards  was  excellent,  and  was  furnished  by  an 
exhaust  system,  made  preferable  in  this  instance  over  the  plenum  by 
the  large  hatchways ;  supplementary  to  this  were  windsails  to  the 
hatches  in  suitable  weather  and  a  large  number  of  electric  fans.  An 
x-ray  appliance  was  supplied  in  the  forward  ward.  In  the  lower  for 
ward  deck  the  apothecary  service  was  arranged  with  the  medical 
supplies  and  also  an  ample  arrangement  for  the  surgical  supplies.  A 
clinical  laboratory  was  also  equipped  here  with  facilities  for  the  requi 
site  tests.  (Figs.  15  and  16.) 

Any  statement  of  the  equipment  of  the  "  Bay  State  "  would  be 
incomplete  without  an  expression  of  thanks  for' the  enthusiastic  help 
rendered  by  the  different  local  aid  associations  and  to  different  indi 
viduals,  who  generously  supplied  everything  which  could  suggest  itself 
as  of  possible  benefit  for  sick  soldiers,  to  say  nothing  of  the  personal 
work  so  lavishly  expended  by  all. 


METHOD   AND    CHARACTER   OF   WORK  DONE  BY 
MASSACHUSETTS  HOSPITAL  SHIP  "BAY  STATE/'* 

BY  HERBERT  L.  BURRELL,  M.  D.,  BOSTON. 

As  an  aid  association  hospital  ship  the  problem  of  its  control  and 
government  was  unique.  It  required  careful  thought  and  considera 
tion,  and  the  Association  was  indebted  to  the  services  of  Mr.  Frederick 
Dodge  and  Commander  Green,  who  carefully  evolved  a  plan  of  control. 

The  title  of  surgeon- superintendent  was  selected  as  designating  an 
official  who  would  have  not  alone  the  medical  charge  of  the  ship  but 
would  represent  the  owners;  for,  as  can  readily  be  understood,  the 
proper  control  of  a  hospital  ship  should  be  vested  medically.  And  yet 
the  difficulty  arose  of  divided  responsibility.  It  was  clear  that  there 
should  be  only  one  captain  on  board  the  ship,  for  the  exigencies  and 
customs  of  the  sea  service  demand  that  there  shall  be  only  one  author 
ity.  In  a  way  the  position  of  the  surgeon-superintendent  was  not 
unlike  that  of  a  supercargo  of  a  vessel. 

The  surgeon-superintendent  was  given  instructions  by  the  Board  of 
Control,  Mr.  H.  L.  Higginson,  Mr.  R.  M.  Burnett,  and  Dr.  H.  L.  Burrell, 
placing  the  ship  entirely  in  his  charge,  the  safety  of  the  vessel  from  the 
navigation  standpoint  to  be  in  the  hands  of  the  master,  and  yet  the 
point  to  which  the  vessel  should  go,  the  immediate  control  of  the  ship 
wherever  influencing  the  welfare  of  the  patients,  —  in  these  the  master 
was  placed  under  the  direction  of  the  surgeon-superintendent. 

The  following  articles  were  signed  by  all  members  of  the  medical 
department.  The  navigation  department  signed  the  ship's  articles, 
under  the  master. 

MASSACHUSETTS  HOSPITAL  STEAMSHIP  "BAY  STATE." 

It  is  hereby  agreed,  by  and  between  Herbert  L.  Burrell,  surgeon- 
superintendent  of  said  hospital  steamship,  on  behalf  of  the  Massa- 

*  Read  before  the  Boston  Society  for  Medical  Improvement,  Nov.  21,  1898. 


15°  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

chusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association,  and  the  several  persons  whose 
names  are  hereto  subscribed,  as  follows  :  — 

1 i)  Said  persons  agree  to  serve  in  the  several  capacities  below 
set  against  their  respective  names  in  the  hospital  service  of  said 
ship,  and  on  board  her,  she  being  now  bound  from  the  Port  of 
Boston  to  such  ports  or  places  as  it  may  be  found  necessary  to 
have  her  visit  in  the  course  of  her  employment  for  hospital  pur 
poses  during  the  present  war ;  provided,  also,  that  if  found  neces 
sary,  she  is  to  make  continuous  trips  between  such  ports  or  places 
and  ports  in  the  United  States  as  may  be  ordered,  and  back  to  a 
final  port  of  discharge  in  the  United  States,  for  a  term  of  time  not 
to  exceed  three  months  in  all  from  the  date  hereof. 

(2)  Said   persons  further  agree  to  conduct   themselves  in  an 
orderly,  faithful,  diligent,  and  sober  manner,  and  to  be  at  all  times 
obedient  to   the  lawful  orders  of  the  surgeon-superintendent,  or 
whoever  may  succeed  him  in  that  office,  in  everything  relating  to 
the  hospital  service  of  said  ship ;  and  to  the  lawful  orders  of  the 
master  of  said  ship  in  the  exercise  of  his  authority  as  master  over 
all  persons  on  board  not  members  of  her  crew. 

(3)  In    consideration  of  said    service  to  be  duly  performed, 
said  surgeon-superintendent  hereby  agrees  to  pay  them  for  each 
and  every  month's  service  the  sums  below  set  against  their  respec 
tive  names,  and  at  the  same  rate  for  any  time  of  service  less  than 
one  month ;  and  also  to  provide  them  (subject  to  the  emergencies 
of  said   service)  with  suitable  food  and  accommodations  on  board 
said  ship. 

(4)  Unless    sooner    discharged    as  below   provided,  the  said 
persons  hereby  each  agree  to  serve  as  above  during  the  continua 
tion  of  the  present  war,  and  for  such  further  time  thereafter  as 
may  be   necessary  for    the  proper  completion  of  the  service   in 
which  she  may  be  then  engaged.     But  no  person  is  to  be  hereby 
bound  to  serve  as  above  for  a  longer  term  than  three  months  in  all. 

(5)  It  is  agreed  that  said  surgeon- superintendent,  or  whoever 
may  succeed  him  in  that  office,  may,  whenever  he  shall  deem  it 
expedient  for  the   interest  of  the   service  for  which  said  ship  is 
destined,  discharge  any  of  the  persons  signing  this  Agreement  from 


Character  of  Work  done  by  Hospital  Ship  "Bay  State"       151 

service  on  board  her,  and  terminate  this  Agreement  as  to  such 
person,  bjr  giving  such  person  one  week's  notice  that  he  or  she  is 
so  discharged,  and  that  this  Agreement  is  so  terminated  as  to  him 
or  her.  At  the  expiration  of  such  notice,  if  said  ship  is  then  in 
port,  or  upon  her  arrival  at  the  next  port  at  which  she  may  arrive 
after  the  expiration  of  such  notice,  such  person  shall  leave  the 
ship,  and  all  his  or  her  rights  under  this  Agreement  to  further 
compensation  or  to  further  food  and  accommodation  on  board 
shall  cease  \  except  that,  if  such  person's  discharge  from  the  ship 
as  above  takes  effect  at  a  port  out  of  the  United  States,  he  or  she 
shall  be  entitled  to  the  reasonable  expense  of  returning  to  the 
United  States,  and  to  wages  at  the  rate  herein  expressed  during 
the  time  reasonably  necessary  for  such  return. 

Dated  at  Boston  this  first  day  of  August,  A.  D.  1898. 

Provision  was  made  in  these  articles,  as  will  be  seen,  for  the  dismissal 
for  gobd  cause  of  any  of  the  members  of  the  medical  department,  and 
it  is  interesting,  as  illustrating  the  wisdom  of  the  articles  of  service  as 
drawn  up  by  Commander  Green  and  Mr.  Frederick  Dodge,  that  during 
the  successive  voyages  it  was  never  necessary  to  refer  to  the  Articles  of 
Agreement.  The  authority  was  established  at  the  start  instead  of  being 
allowed  to  develop  as  occasion  demanded. 

Selected  and  elected  to  their  respective  positions,  as  the  medical 
department  were,  out  of  an  extraordinarily  large  number  of  applicants, 
it  was  and  still  is  a  matter  of  wonderment  that  they  adjusted  themselves 
so  perfectly  to  the  conditions  which  they  met  and  to  the  individuals 
with  whom  they  associated. 

After  sailing  it  became  necessary  to  lie  for  some  forty-eight  hours  in 
President's  Roads  to  restore  order  out  of  chaos.  The  ship  was  broadly 
divided  into  two  departments  :  (i)  navigation;  (2)  medical.  Under 
the  navigation  department  were  the  engineers'  and  stewards'  depart 
ments.  The  stewards'  department  was  definitely  assigned  by  the 
master  of  the  ship,  Captain  P.  F.  Butman,  to  trie  purser. 

The  organization  was  simple.  If  any  member  of  the  medical 
department  wished  anything  done  in  the  navigation  department  or 
engineers'  department,  the  request  was  made  through  the  surgeon- 


152  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

superintendent.  If  any  member  of  the  navigation  department  wished 
anything  done  in  the  medical  department,  the  request  was  made  through 
the  master  of  the  ship.  While  the  above  was  the  rule,  yet  it  was  rare 
that  it  was  carried  out  to  the  letter.  It  was  difficult  for  those  connected 
with  the  ship,  both  in  the  navigation  and  medical  departments,  to  see 
the  necessity  for  this  provision. 

The  surgeon-superintendent  received  daily  reports  from  the  master 
of  the  vessel  as  to  the  quantity  of  fuel,  water,  position  of  the  vessel,  and 
the  master  of  the  vessel  was  directed  to  report  at  any  time  any  immi 
nent  exigency  that  might  arise. 

The  cleanliness  of  the  ship  was  suggestively  controlled  by  the  medical 
department.  The  actual  work  was  done  by  the  navigation  department, 
except  in  the  parts  of  the  ship,  wards,  etc.,  directly  occupied  by  the 
patients.  The  work  of  the  various  officers  was  as  follows  :  The  surgeon- 
superintendent  had  no  specific  duties,  but  was  in  charge.  The  execu 
tive  officer,  who  was  the  first  surgeon,  was  the  one  who  carried  out  the 
directions  of  the  surgeon-superintendent  in  the  medical  department. 
The  second  surgeon  was  in  charge  of  the  patients.  Practically  he  was 
visiting  physician.  The  first  assistant  surgeon  was  in  charge  of  the 
forward  ward,  and  the  second  assistant  surgeon  was  in  charge  of  the  aft 
ward.  The  purser  was  in  charge  of  all  financial  accounts  and  the 
stewards'  department.  The  head  nurse  was  in  charge  of  the  nursing. 
The  baymen  were  under  the  direction  of  the  visiting  physician.  The 
orders  for  their  work  were  written  in  a  separate  book,  and  while  they 
were  told  that  they  must  co-operate  with  the  head  nurse,  yet  they  were 
not  directly  under  her. 

The  division  of  work  in  the  wards  was  that  which  exists  in  a  well- 
regulated  hospital.  It  was  impractical  in  many  ways  to  carry  this  out 
fully,  yet  the  general  spirit  was  that  the  ship  was  a  hospital  platform. 
As  a  supply  ship  it  became  necessary  to  know  definitely  the  position  of 
everything  on  board  in  order  that  when  supplies  were  furnished  their 
character  and  quantity  should  be  accurately  known.  This  work  was 
largely  done  by  the  second  surgeon  and  by  the  head  nurse,  who  was 
acting  property  clerk.  The  financial  interests  of  the  ship  were  looked 
out  for  by  the  purser,  in  conference  with  the  master  and  surgeon- 
superintendent. 


Character  of  Work  done  by  Hospital  Ship  "Bay  State"       153 

The  ship  was  obviously  intended  primarily  for  the  care  and  well- 
being  of  Massachusetts  troops ;  this,  however,  not  to  the  exclusion  of 
other  volunteers  or  regular  troops.  She  was  specifically  fitted  out  as  a 
supplementary  aid  to  the  medical  departments  of  the  United  States 
Army  and  Navy,  and  wherever  any  question  arose  as  to  what  the  ship 
should  do,  —  for  example,  the  transportation  of  caskets,  the  receiving 
of  passengers,  the  moving  of  supplies,  —  all  were  decided  after  refer 
ence  to  what  the  ship  was  equipped  for.  It  made  it  easy  to  make 
decisions,  but  at  times  they  seemed  unelastic  and  arbitrary. 

The  method  adopted  of  rendering  aid  to  troops  was  in  general  as 
follows :  — 

First,  some  officer  of  the  medical  department  of  the  ship  reported  in 
person  to  the  ranking  officer  in  the  army  or  navy  who  was  present,  that 
the  ship  had  arrived,  presented  her  credentials,  and  asked  for  sugges 
tions  as  to  the  manner  in  which  they  could  render  aid.  Second,  an 
officer  of  the  medical  department  of  the  ship  placed  himself  in  com 
munication,  for  advice,  suggestions,  and  directions,  with  the  chief  med 
ical  officer  of  the  army  or  navy  who  was  present.  As  the  ship  was  not 
under  the  direction  of  either  army  or  navy,  and  had  a  roving  commis 
sion,  the  advice,  suggestions,  and  directions  received  from  these  various 
sources  were  considered  and  a  line  of  action  was  adopted.  There  were 
many  distinct  advantages  connected  with  the  position  of  the  ship.  The 
natural  self-interest  of  an  organization  would  frequently  deflect  it  from 
giving  advice  as  to  where  the  ship  could  be  most  useful,  which  was 
obviously  the  function  for  which  she  was  equipped. 

However,  one  principle  dominated  the  aid  rendered  by  the  ship  and 
it  was  this  :  to  find  out  as  far  as  possible  what  was  needed  by  the 
authorities  in  charge,  and  to  co-operate  with  them  in  every  way  possible, 
to  render  them  assistance  in  the  way  in  which  they  wished.  It  became 
very  clear  that  the  best  way  to  assist  them  was  to  do  what  the  authori 
ties  in  charge  wished  and  not  what  the  surgeon-superintendent  might 
consider  necessary  and  best.  In  a  few  instances  it  was  necessary  to 
disregard  constituted  authority. 

A  great  deal  of  work  was  done  by  the  pathologist  of  the  ship,  Dr. 
Cabot,  who  accompanied  the  ship  on  her  second  voyage,  in  the  general 
hospital  at  Ponce  and  Guanica. 


154  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

The  designation  of  what  patients  were  to  be  taken  was  at  times 
difficult  and  complicated.  In  a  few  instances  an  effort  was  made  to 
press  upon  the  ship  unsuitable  cases,  but  this  was  due  to  a  desire  on 
the  part  of  the  medical  authorities  to  relieve  a  condition  which  seemed 
to  them  unbearable.  However,  in  all  instances  where  patients  were 
taken,  they  were  definitely  assigned  to  the  care  of  the  ship  by  the 
chief  surgeon  of  the  military  district. 

Wherever  it  was  possible,  identification  papers  were  sent  with  the 
patients,  and  when  we  reached  the  home  port  the  patients  were  dis 
posed  of  by  being  assigned  nominally  to  a  representative  of  the  United 
States  Army.  Substantial  records  were  kept  of  the  patients,  and  the 
following  is  the  form  of  blank  that  was  used  for  histories  :  — 

HOSPITAL  SHIP  "  BAY  STATE." 

Name  Date 

Age  Native  of  No.  Berth  No. 

Grade 
Address 

Address  nearest  friend 
Received  from 
Disability 
How  and  where  received 

Date 
Discharged.     Condition 

Delivered  to 

Medical  record 

Surgeon  in  charge. 

A  discharge  card  was  also  given  in  every  instance.  This  was  for  the 
purpose  of  identification,  to  prevent  frauds,  and  to  enable  the  patients 
to  bring  legitimate  claims  against  the  Government.  On  reaching  the 
home  port  duplicate  medical  histories  of  patients  were  made  out  and 
were  forwarded  to  the  representative  of  the  United  States  Government 
to  whom  the  troops  were  nominally  delivered,  with  the  request  that 
these  records  be  delivered,  through  the  proper  channel,  for  deposit  in 
the  Surgeon-General's  office  in  Washington. 

The  ship  did  work  in  three  different  directions  :  (i)  She  brought 
home  three  hundred  and  thirty-six  patients.  Of  that  number  five  died. 


Character  of  Work  done  by  Hospital  Ship  "Bay  State"      155 

The  percentage  of  mortality  was  1.49  per  cent;  subtracting  a  patient 
who  died  before  leaving  Santiago  Harbor,  this  reduces  it  to  1.19  per 
cent.  This  work  was  carried  out  at  Guantanamo,  Santiago,  Cairn enera, 
Guanica,  Ponce,  Arecibo,  Utuado,  and  San  Juan.  (2)  She  gave  medi 
cal  and  surgical  supplies  to  patients  at  all  of  these  points.  She  supplied 
with  many  essentials  a  yellow  fever  hospital  at  Santiago  and  at  Siboney ; 
furnished  a  number  of  supplies  at  Utuado  ;  essentially  equipped  a  hos 
pital  of  seventy  beds  at  Arecibo  and  of  eighty  beds  at  San  Juan; 
furnished  a  large  amount  of  supplies  at  Ponce  and  Guanica ;  relieved 
starvation  at  Caimanera ;  furnished  supplies  at  Guantanamo,  and  inci 
dentally  furnished  necessities  and  luxuries  to  vessels  of  the  United 
States  Navy.  (3)  On  the  first  voyage  to  Porto  Rico  it  was  found  that 
the  problem  of  caring  for  the  sick  of  the  Sixth  Regiment  was  a  difficult 
one,  and  it  was  determined  to  leave  the  seriously  ill  patients  at  Utuado, 
owing  to  the  difficulties  arising  from  the  transportation  from  Utuado  to 
Arecibo.  The  ship  at  this  time  took  essentially  all  the  convalescent 
patients  of  the  regiment  and  left  as  a  supplementary  aid  to  the  medical 
department  of  the  Sixth  Regiment,  under  the  direction  of  the  medical 
agent  of  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association,  Dr.  J.  Booth 
Clarkson,  who  afterwards  acted  as  purser  of  the  ship,  and  the  following 
nurses  and  baymen  :  Miss  Parsons,  Miss  Gault,  Mr.  Kemp,  and  Mr. 
Lyford.  (4)  The  mental  influence  of  the  ship  should  not  be  lost 
sight  of.  It  was  distinctly  a  sense  of  encouragement  to  troops,  espe 
cially  the  officers,  wherever  she  went.  The  sense  of  encouragement  in 
many  instances  was  so  marked  that  it,  figuratively  speaking,  placed 
men  on  their  feet  and  enabled  them  to  carry  on  their  work.  The  fol 
lowing  quotation  from  a  letter  of  Major  L.  C.  Carr's  expresses  this 
mental  influence:  "Is  like  a  ray  of  hope  in  a  desert  of  desolation." 
She  was  always  welcomed  wherever  she  went,  and  it  was  a  rare  pleasure 
that  was  afforded  to  the  officers  of  the  ship  to  act  as  the  dispensers  of 
the  charity  of  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association. 


THE   MEDICAL   AND    SURGICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE 
HOSPITAL   SHIP   "BAY   STATE/'* 

BY  J.  T.  BOTTOMLEY,  M.  D.,  BOSTON. 

PERHAPS  not  the  least  interesting  and  instructive  of  the  developments 
of  the  late  war  was  the  work  done  by  hospital  ships.  Both  the  army 
and  navy  possessed  such  ships  as  adjuncts  to  their  regular  medical 
service  and  found  them  invaluable.  Attached  to  neither,  but  co-oper 
ating  with  both,  was  the  hospital  ship,  «  Bay  State,"  sent  out  by  the 
Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

It  may  add  to  the  interest  of  her  history  to  know  that  the  sending 
out  of  this  ship  was  an  unique  occurrence  in  two  particulars ;  she  was 
the  first  hospital  ship  in  the  world  to  be  fitted  out  by  an  aid  association 
and  authorized  by  a  sovereign  power  under  the  articles  of  the  Geneva 
Conference ;  she  was  the  only  hospital  ship  in  the  late  war  sent  out  by 
the  people  of  any  State  to  care  for  its  soldiers  — a  distinction  that 
added  to  the  already  great  fame  of  Massachusetts,  and  made  her 
soldiers  the  envy  of  their  less  fortunate  brothers. 
^  Under  the  auspices  of  the  Volunteer  Aid  Association  the  "Bay 
State  "  made  three  trips  to  and  from  Cuba  and  Porto  Rico  and  was  in 
•  active  service  about  three  months,  during  which  time  she  received  on 
board,  as  patients,  three  hundred  and  thirty-six  soldiers.  To  care  for 
these  she  carried  on  her  first  trip  five  physicians,  six  nurses  and  six 
baymen ;  on  her  second  trip,  six  physicians,  six  nurses,  and  eight  bay- 
men  ;  on  this  trip  two  of  the  nurses  and  two  baymen  were  left  in  Porto 
Rico  to  aid  in  the  management  of  the  hospital  of  the  Sixth  Massachusetts 
Regiment  at  Utuado ;  on  her  third  trip  she  carried  four  physicians,  six 
nurses,  and  six  baymen.  These  comprised  the  working  medical  force 
of  the  ship. 

The  first  consignment  of  patients  was  made  up  of  101  men  of  the 
Second  and  Ninth  Massachusetts  Regiments  —  40  from  the  Second 

*  Read  before  the  Boston  Society  for  Medical  Improvement,  Nov.  21,  1898. 


Medical  and  Surgical  History  of  Hospital  Ship  "Bay  State"      157 

and  6 1  from  the  Ninth;  these  were  received  at  Santiago,  Cuba,  in 
August  of  the  present  year.  The  second  and  third  consignments  came 
from  Porto  Rico  in  September  and  October  •  the  second  consisted  of 
100,  and  the  third  of  135  men.  Of  these  235,  207  were  from  the 
Sixth  Massachusetts  Regiment,  25  from  the  First  U.  S.  Volunteer 
Engineers,  2  from  the  U.  S.  Hospital  Service,  and  i  from  the  Fifth 
Light  Artillery. 

We  naturally  preferred  to  have  Massachusetts  soldiers  as  patients, 
because  the  boat  was  fitted  out  and  supported  by  Massachusetts  people 
and  money ;  but  when  sick  Massachusetts  men  were  not  to  be  found 
we  were  glad  to  receive  and  care  for  the  sick  of  other  States,  as  well 
as  of  the  regular  service.  Of  our  336  patients,  321  lived  in  Massa 
chusetts,  7  in  New  York,  3  each  in  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland,  i  in 
Connecticut,  and  i  in  New  Jersey. 

All  these  patients  were  received  in  tropical  climates  after  they  had 
been  there  from  six  to  sixteen  weeks.  Our  work  was  to  take  the  men 
and  care  for  them  until  they  were  delivered  to  the  proper  authorities 
at  whatever  point  it  was  deemed  expedient.  All  of  our  patients  were 
landed  at  Boston. 

In  the  three  hundred  and  thirty-six  patients  whom  we  carried,  the 
following  diseases  were  represented  :  — 

Malaria  and  Complications.  —  Acute,  34;  convalescent,  32; 
with  chronic  diarrhoea,  14;  with  dysentery,  16;  with  yellow  fever 
(convalescent),  5  ;  with  phthisis,  i.  Total,  102. 

Typhoid  Fever. — Acute,  20;  convalescent,  53.  Total,  73, 
including  post-typhoidal  abscess  of  thigh,  i  ;  of  parotid,  i  ;  post- 
typhoidal  neuritis,  3. 

Diarrhoea.  —  Acute,  55;  convalescent,  42;  with  malaria,  14; 
with  neurasthenia,  i ;  with  tonsilitis,  i.  Total,  113. 

Dysentery.  —  Acute,  16;  convalescent,  9;  with  malaria,  16. 
Total,  41. 

Yellow  Fever.  —  Convalescent,  16. 
Rheumatism. —  7. 

Scattering.  —  Gonorrhoea,  4  ;  debility,  4  ;  febricula,  4  ;  hernia,  4 ; 
bronchitis,  3  ;  gastritis,  2  ;  phthisis,  2  ;  after-effects  of  sunstroke,  2  ; 
syphilis,  i ;  sprained  ankle,  i  ;  varicocele,  i  ;  septicemia,  i  ; 


158  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

myelitis,  i  ;  cardiac,  i  ;  cervical  adenitis,  i  ;    flat-foot,  i ;   paresis 
of  extensor  muscles  of  hand,  i .     Total,  34. 

The  foregoing  table  demonstrates  that  of  the  336  patients,  102,  or 
30.36  per  cent,  had  malaria;  73,  or  21.73  Per  cent>  had  typhoid;  113, 
or  33-63  Per  cent>  had  diarrhoea;  and  41,  or  12.2  per  cent,  had  dysen 
tery.  Considering  dysentery  and  diarrhoea  together,  they  affected  154 
of  the  336  patients,  or  45.86  per  cent.  This  means  that  45.86  per 
cent  of  the  patients  as  they  came  on  board  had  some  degree  of  diarrhoea 
or  dysentery ;  yet  these  figures  do  not  convey  a  fair  idea  of  the  preva 
lence  of  intestinal  affections  among  the  troops.  Almost  every  northern 
soldier  who  was  sent  to  Cuba  or  Porto  Rico  had  a  more  or  less  severe 
attack  of  diarrhoea  during  his  stay  there.  Improper  food,  its  improper 
preparation,  the  failure  of  the  men  to  grasp  the  great  importance  of 
boiling  all  drinking-water,  and  the  careless  use  of  tropical  fruits,  — 
all  aided  in  producing  a  disastrous  effect.  When  you  add  to  this  the 
necessary  exposure  to  wet  and  dampness,  without  the  possibility  of 
exchanging  wet  clothing  for  dry,  the  prevalence  of  intestinal  inflamma 
tion  is  not  remarkable. 

Let  us  now  consider  the  diseases  of  the  patients  brought  from 
Santiago  on  the  first  trip  as  compared  with  those  of  the  men  brought 
from  Porto  Rico  on  the  second  and  third  trips. 

Of  the  101  brought  from  Santiago,  8 1,  or  80.2  per  cent,  had  malaria 
in  some  form;  but  16,  or  6.81  per  cent,  of  the  235  from  Porto  Rico 
showed  malaria.  These  figures  probably  place  the  percentage  of 
malaria  in  Porto  Rico  too  high ;  for  some  of  these  16  cases  were  doubt 
ful.  Blood  examination  of  106  patients,  among  whom  were  these  16, 
showed  the  plasmodium  only  twice.  Again,  Dr.  Cabot  examined  the 
blood  of  at  least  TOO  patients  in  the  military  hospitals  at  Guanica  and 
Ponce,  and  did  not  find  the  plasmodium  once  —  a  fact  which  makes  it 
very  probable  that  malaria  was  comparatively  rare  in  Porto  Rico  among 
the  soldiers.  The  diagnosis  of  malaria  is  put  down  for  them  out  of 
deference  to  the  regimental  surgeon,  who  ha.d  far  greater  opportunity 
of  observing  them  than  we,  and  who  had  already  made  this  diagnosis. 

Eight  of  the  Santiago  men  -had  typhoid  fever,  a  percentage  of  7.92 
per  cent,  while  63  of  the  Porto  Rican  patients  showed  it,  a  percentage 


Medical  and  Surgical  History  of  Hospital  Ship  "Bay  Slate"      159 

of  26.89  per  cent.  It  is  probable  that  more  cases  of  typhoid  would 
have  been  discovered  among  the  Santiago  men  had  it  not  been  for  the 
peculiar  behavior  of  our  typhoid  cultures  on  the  first  trip,  which  ren 
dered  the  doing  of  the  Widal  test  impossible.  This  forced  us  to  make 
the  diagnosis  of  typhoid  on  clinical  features  alone. 

The  percentages  of  the  patients  with  diarrhoea  do  not,  as  has  been 
noted  above,  convey  a  fair  notion  of  its  prevalence.  Eighteen,  or  17.82 
per  cent,  of  the  Santiago  men  had  dysentery;  23,  or  9.79  per  cent,  of 
the  men  from  Porto  Rico  showed  it.  Examination  of  the  stools  for 
the  amceba  dysenteries,  was  very  difficult  on  ship  board.  Some  wer,e 
examined  on  the  second  trip;  the  examination  was  negative,  but  not 
satisfactory.  At  the  hospitals  in  the  city  a  number  of  cases  of  amebic 
dysentery  were  found  among  the  patients  from  Santiago.  As  far  as  I 
know,  but  one  such  case  was  found  among  the  Porto  Rican  patients. 

The  sixteen  cases  of  yellow  fever  received  at  Santiago  were  conva 
lescent.  The  diagnosis  had  been  made  by  the  regimental  surgeons. 
The  histories  of  the  men  did  not  seem  to  point  to  yellow  fever,  but 
rather  to  malaria.  However,  the  men  who  made  the  diagnosis  had 
observed  the  whole  course  of  the  illness  of  these  patients.  Several 
of  the  cases  showed  a  peculiar  yellowish  discoloration  of  the  finger 
nails,  which,  according  to  Dr.  McCollom,  might  come  after  yellow 
fever.  There  were  no  cases  of  yellow  fever  among  the  patients  from 
Porto  Rico. 

The  abov«  facts  show  well  the  difference  in  the  healthfulness  of  the 
two  climates.  Malaria  was  very  prevalent  and  of  an  extremely  severe 
type  at  Santiago  ;  it  was  very  uncommon  in  Porto  Rico,  and  the  two 
undoubted  cases  that  we  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  there  were 
very  mild.  Typhoid  was  apparently  more  prevalent  in  Porto  Rico, 
and  the  type  was  sometimes  very  severe,  the  victims  often  dying  from 
the  sixth  to  the  tenth  day ;  in  fact,  autopsy  would  show  the  pathologi 
cal  changes  in  the  lymphoid  elements  of  the  bowel  to  be  in  the  stage 
of  hyperplasia,  there  being  no  sloughing  or  necrosis.  We  were  told 
that  before  the  advent  of  the  soldiers  in  Porto  Rico  typhoid  was  com 
paratively  unknown.  The  soldiers  brought  it  with  them.  Seventeen 
fresh  cases  of  typhoid  develOjDed  on  the  "Yale  "  when  she  was  carrying 
the  Sixth  Massachusetts  to  Porto  Rico.  Dysentery  was  much  more  com- 


160  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

mon  in  Santiago  and  was  more  severe  than  that  seen  in  Porto  Rico. 
It  is  not  within  our  province  to  attempt  to  explain  why  there  was  less 
sickness  in  Porto  Rico  than  in  Santiago.  The  climate  of  the  former 
is  surely  more  wholesome  and  the  war  was  older  when  the  campaign 
there  began,  and  hence,  there  was  more  time  to  make  preparations  for 
protecting  the  health  of  the  soldiers.  Whatever  the  reason  was,  the 
men  in  Porto  Rico  were  in  a  much  better  condition  physically  than  those 
in  Santiago ;  from  the  latter  came  the  sickest-looking  and,  indeed,  the 
sickest  men  we  had  ever  seen  or  ever  expect  to  see.  The  marked 
muddy  pallor,  the  great  emaciation,  the  sunken  eyes,  the  starved  looks, 
and  the  terrible  weakness,  which  was  so  manifest,  made  a  picture  that 
cannot  be  adequately  described.  Even  the  men  said  to  be  fairly  well 
looked  to  us  sick.  It  was  war  in  its  most  terrible  aspect,  shorn  of  all 
its  pomp  and  glory,  clothed  in  all  its  wretchedness  and  misery. 

The  malaria  at  Santiago  was  all  of  the  continued  and  remittent  type  ; 
the  crescent  form  of  the  organism  was  present  in  all  the  cases  from  that 
place.  We  found  the  organism  of  the  tertian  form  but  once,  and  that 
in  one  of  the  Porto  Rican  patients.  At  Santiago  the  men  with  malaria 
were  many  of  them  very  ill,  and  these  cases  bore  a  strong  resemblance 
to  typhoid  fever.  The  temperature  was  irregular,  but  the  remissions 
were  greater  than  are  usually  seen  in  typhoid  and  did  not  come  at  def 
inite  intervals  ;  the  typhoidal  facial  expression  was  common  ;  the  spleen 
was  enlarged- but  was  apparently  more  firm  than  the  typhoid  spleen. 
Cachexia  and  anemia  were  marked.  Malarial  edema  was  not  common 
but  was  present  in  several  instances.  Chills  were  not  seen  in  all  cases. 
Paroxysms,  when  they  came,  usually  occurred  in  the  afternoon.  Co-ex 
isting  diarrhoeas  and  dysenteries  often  complicated  the  diagnosis  and 
treatment  of  these  malarias.  -  There  were  undoubtedly  some  instances 
of  double  infection  with  malaria  and  typhoid ;  this  was  proved  after 
wards  at  the  hospitals  here.  The  behavior  of  our  typhoid  cultures  on 
the  first  trip  prevented  the  possible  discovery  of  the  fact  on  the  ship. 

When  we  obtained  our  first  stock  of  typhoid  cultures  on  agar  and 
serum  they  came  from  a  perfectly  reliable  laboratory,  and  the  tubes, 
stoppered  with  cotton  and  sealed  with  paramne,  were  delivered  in 
a  practically  air-tight  jar.  Ten  days  later,  when  the  Widal  reaction 
became  of  importance,  we  found  that  all  cultures  made  from  these  were 


Medical  and  Surgical  History  of  Hospital  Ship  "Bay  State"       161 

either  sterile  or  contaminated.  This  misfortune  we  ascribed  to  our 
lack  of  skill  and  technique  and  to  draughts  of  air  from  a  windsail.  The 
stock  on  the  second  trip  came  from  a  different  source  and  was  on  agar; 
the  tubes,  stoppered  with  cotton  and  unsealed,  were  placed  in  a  box 
covered  only  by  paper;  they  were  not  touched  for  ten  days ;  then,  with 
the  same  technique,  etc.,  in  planting  cultures,  the  results  obtained  were 
very  satisfactory;  the  tubes  not  used  on  this  trip  were  preserved. 
Fresh  agar  cultures  were  taken  on  the  third  trip  and  were  again  placed 
in  the  glass  jar.  When  we  came  to  use  them  most  of  them  were  again 
sterile ;  some  were  contaminated ;  none  were  useful,  though,  from 
external  appearances,  they  seemed  to  be  all  right.  Then  we  fell  back, 
as  a  last  resort,  on  the  tubes  kept  over  from  the  second  trip,  which  were 
at  that  time  over  six  weeks  old.  Again,  the  conditions  and  the  tech 
nique  remaining  the  same,  these  cultures  gave  excellent  results.  The 
cultures  on  the  first  and  third  trips  came  from  the  same  source,  and, 
when  received,  were  apparently  in  good  condition  and  showed  a  growth. 
The  interesting  points  are  :  the  apparent  effect  of  the  air-tight  jar  on 
cultures  of  the  typhoid  organism ;  and  the  very  lively  growth  obtained 
from  the  second  cultures  after  they  were  six  weeks  old. 

The  cases  mentioned  in  the  table  as  febriculae  formed  an  interesting 
class.  They  were  very  common  in  Porto  Rico,  and  were  said  to  have 
been  common  in  Camp  Alger.  As  far  as  we  could  learn  from  the  four 
patients  we  had,  the  prodromal  symptoms  were  like  those  of  typhoid, 
though  the  period  of  incubation  was  not  so  long,  being  only  two  to 
three  days.  The  most  distressing  symptom  was  pain  in  the  back  — 
and  patients  complained  chiefly  of  that.  Diarrhoea  and  headache  were 
usually  present.  The  temperature  ran  between  102°  and  104°  for  three 
or  four  days,  and  then  fell  by  lysis.  An  urticaria,  which  itched  intol 
erably,  usually  accompanied  the  fever;  while  this  was  not  the  only 
condition  in  which  urticaria  appeared,  yet  it  was  more  common  with 
this  than  with  the  other  fevers.  It  appeared  usually  in  the  giant  form 
and  covered  irregular  areas  of  considerable  size  on  various  parts  of  the 
body.  The  urticaria  usually  passed  away  with  the  fever.  The  blood 
of  these  patients  did  not  give  the  Widal  reaction,  and  whether  the 
fever  was  due  to  a  gastro-enteritis,  to  heat,  or  to  exhaustion,  — all  of 
which  were  advanced  as  causes,  —  we  could  not  decide. 


1 62  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

Blood  Examinations.  — The  number  of  very  ill  men  in  our  first  con 
signment,  and  the  amount  of  attention  they  demanded,  made  it  possi 
ble  for  us  to  examine  the  blood  of  the  sickest  patients  only.  Fifty-six 
examinations  were  made  for  \\\z  plasmodium  malaria,  and  the  crescent 
form  was  found  in  49  ;  7  examinations  were  negative.  On  the  second 
trip,  with  an  increased  medical  force  and  fewer  sick  patients,  100 
Widals  and  100  examinations  of  blood  for  the  plasmodium  were  done. 
Ninety-five  of  the  Widals  were  negative  and  5  positive.  Ninety-eight 
of  the  examinations  for  the  plasmodium  were  negative  and  2  positive 
—  one  showing  the  crescent  form  and  one  the  tertian.  Dr.  Richard 
Cabot  was  of  the  greatest  service  to  the  ship  on  this  trip.  On  the 
third  trip,  because  of  the  loss  of  two  members  of  the  medical  staff, 
we  could  do  only  such  work  on  the  blood  as  seemed  necessary.  Fifteen 
Widals  were  done,  1 1  of  which  were  positive  and  4  negative ;  as  many 
examinations  for  the  plasmodium  were  made,  and  all  were  negative. 
There  are  some  difficulties  about  the  use  of  a  microscope  at  sea.  Of 
course,  with  the  motion  of  the  boat— and  there  is  a  good  deal  of 
motion  in  a  small  boat  —  the  light  was  constantly  changing  and  it  was 
difficult  to  focus.  If  we  used  artificial  light  we  had  to  work  below 
decks,  where  it  was  exceedingly  hot  and  uncomfortable.  It  was  some 
times  difficult  to  keep  either  ourselves  or  the  microscope  upright. 

Surgery.  —  Though  we  were  well  equipped  for  surgical  work,  we  did 
but  little  of  it  because  of  the  cessation  of  hostilities.  On  this  account,  our 
surgical  work  was  limited  to  the  opening  and  draining  of  two  abscesses. 

Treatment.  —  First,  of  ourselves.  It  is  notable  that  the  medical 
department  of  the  ship,  aside  from  casualties  and  sea-sickness,  was 
never  incapacitated  by  illness.  As  a  matter  of  precaution  we  all  took 
four  grains  of  quinine  every  morning  while  in  Cuba.  After  any  unusual 
exertion,  or  after  a  trip  ashore,  the  dose  was  repeated  and  supple 
mented  by  a  cup  of  coffee.  We  worked  as  little  as  possible  in  the  heat 
of  the  day  —  that  is,  from  1 1  A.  M.  to  3  P.  M.  Contrary  to  all  the  prin 
ciples  of  temperance,  we  never  drank  water  when  ashore.  Fruits, 
except  those  carried  from  the  North  on  the  boat  or  those  to  which  we 
were  accustomed,  were  not  allowed.  Plenty  of  rest  was  one  of  the 
maxims.  Except  when  the  good  of  the  ship  demanded  it,  no  one  was 
allowed  ashore  after  one  hour  before  sunset.  Our  drinking-water  was 


Medical  and  Surgical  History  of  Hospital  Ship  "Bay  State"       \  63 

distilled  from  sea- water,  and  even  the  water  in  Santiago  harbor,  which 
was  unquestionably  foul,  and  where  there  is  practically  no  tide  to  float 
the  sewage,  etc.,  away,  was  used  by  us  for  purposes  of  distillation. 
Some  few  cases  of  moderate  diarrhoea  among  the  medical  staff  fol 
lowed  the  use  of  this  water.  While  the  general  trend  of  opinion 
among  the  dwellers  in  hot  climates  seems  to  be  against  sleeping  at 
night  in  the  open  air,  yet  a  number  of  the  medical  force  of  the  boat 
did  so  more  or  less  constantly,  and  apparently  suffered  no  ill  effects. 
However,  sleeping  in  the  berths  on  straw  matting  was  usually  not  intol 
erably  uncomfortable.  When  we  were  at  sea  the  decks  were  washed 
down  with  sea-water  every  morning.  When  we  were  in  infected  har 
bors  this  process  was  entirely  omitted.  Washing  of  the  floor  about 
the  serving  tables  in  the  wards  was  allowed  then  but  once  a  day,  and 
that  with  fresh  water  only.  These  measures  were  taken  on  the  advice 
of  some  of  the  medical  officers  of  the  navy.  They  were  necessary  in 
Cuba,  but  not  in  Porto  Rico. 

Treatment  of  Patients.  —  While  not  coming  exactly  under  the  head 
of  treatment  of  patients,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  speak  here  of  the 
method  employed  in  treating  their  clothing  and  personal  effects.  When 
a  patient  reached  the  ward  after  his  corrosive  bath  he  wore  a  suit  of 
new  pajamas.  The  clothing  he  had  worn  and  all  his  personal  effects 
that  could  not  be  injured  by  exposure  to  steam  were  placed  in  num 
bered  canvas  bags  and  passed  through  the  deck  into  the  sterilizing 
room.  Here  they  were  subjected  for  twenty  minutes  to  steam  at  340° 
F.,  under  twenty  pounds'  pressure.  All  articles  not  sterilized  by  steam 
were  placed  in  a  box  and  disinfected  by  formaldehyde  gas.  Schering's 
lamp,  with  pastils,  was  used.  The  wards  were  disinfected  by  formalde 
hyde  and  thoroughly  washed  after  each  trip. 

Diets. — Diets  were  divided  into  three  classes:  (i)  liquid,  (2)  soft 
solids,  (3)  ship's  diet.  The  following  articles  were  contained  in  these  : 

(1)  Liquid. — Beef   tea   prepared   from  either  the   extract   or 
juice,  clear  soups,  clam  juice,  malted  milk,  Mellin's  food,  tea  and 
coffee  occasionally. 

(2)  Soft  Solids.  — Bread,  puddings,  eggs,  oatmeal,  ice  cream. 

(3)  Ships  Diet.  —  Soup,  meats,  potatoes,  desserts,  ice  cream, 
fruit.  • 


164  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

Drug  Treatment. — Comparatively  few  drugs  were  used.  Malaria 
was,  of  course,  treated  by  quinine.  It  was  usually  given  in  8-grain 
doses  three  times  daily.  Cases  which  did  not  do  well  under  this  treat 
ment  were  given  half-ounce  doses  of  Warburg's  tincture ;  the  change 
worked  very  well  in  two  or  three  instances.  The  very  sick  cases  — 
those  in  whom  vomiting  was  a  prominent  symptom  or  whose  stomachs 
would  not  tolerate  quinine  —  were  given  15 -grain  doses  of  the  bisul- 
phate  with  tartaric  acid  subcutaneously.  The  anemia  and  cachexia 
were  treated  by  Fowler's  solution  or  by  the  iron,  arsenic,  and  strychnine 
tablet.  Where  arsenic  was  contra-indicated,  reduced  iron  was  used. 
Steady  high  temperatures  were  treated  by  cold  sponge  baths.  The 
hardest  cases  to  treat  successfully  were  those  complicated  by  diarrhoea 
or  dysentery. 

The  treatment  of  the  diarrhoeas  varied.  Mild  cases,  having  four  to 
six  movements  a  day,  were  treated  simply  by  a  restricted  diet  —  usually 
the  liquid ;  in  two  or  three  days  the  diarrhoea  generally  gave  way  to 
constipation.  No  drugs  were  given  these  cases.  Whether  the  result 
ing  constipation  was  the  effect  of  the  sea-air  —  which,  some  hold,  is 
decidedly  constipating  —  or  of  the  rest  and  restricted  diet  matters  not. 
Somewhat  more  severe  cases  were  treated  by  bismuth  or  by  the  opium 
camphor,  and  tannin  tablet  in  addition  to  the  restricted  diet.  Severe 
diarrhoeas  and  the  dysenteries  showed  but  very  little  improvement  under 
the  use  of  drugs  by  the  mouth.  Opium  was  always  given  in  these  cases, 
but  it  was  supplemented  by  large  high  enemata.  Quinine  in  the  pro 
portion  of  thirty  grains  to  two  quarts  of  water,  and  nitrate  of  silver  in 
the  proportion  of  twenty  grains  to  two  quarts  of  water,  were  both  used. 
One  worked  well  in  some  cases,  the  other  in  others,  but  on  the  whole 
the  quinine  enemata  worked  more  satisfactorily. 

Typhoid  fever  was  treated  in  the  usual  way.  Cold  sponge  baths  were 
given  when  the  temperature  required  it.  The  diet  was  limited  to 
liquids,  with  soft  boiled  eggs  occasionally.  The  drug  treatment  was 
not  unusual.  Bedding  that  was  infected  was  thrown  overboard.  After 
each  trip  all  bedding,  bed-pans,  etc.,  were  sterilized  by  steam.  Rubber 
sheets,  etc.,  were  washed  in  carbolic-acid  solution.  All  stools  were 
disinfected  with  chloride  of  lime  and  carbolic  acid,  and  the  bed-pans 
and  urinals  canefully  cleansed  after  their  use.  The  water-closets  were 


Medical  and  Surgical  History  of  Hospital  Ship  "Bay  State"      165 

closely  watched ;  chloride  of  lime  was  freely  used,  and  flushing  with 
corrosive  was  a  matter  of  daily  routine.  Closets  were  inspected  twice 
daily.  Pails  of  corrosive  solution,  for  disinfection  of  the  hands,  were 
always  in  the  wards.  All  these  precautions  were  taken  to  minimize 
the  danger  of  contracting  or  spreading  infection. 

Most  of  the  men,  as  they  came  to  us,  looked  pale  and  weak.  Such 
men  we  tried  to  tone  up  by  iron,  strychnine,  etc.  All  had  marvellous 
appetites,  and  it  was  difficult  to  restrain  even  the  sick  from  over-eating ; 
this  was  particularly  true  of  the  men  from  Santiago. 

All  patients  who  were  able  to  be  out  of  their  berths  were  kept  on  the 
upper  deck  as  much  as  possible  on  suitable  days.  Here  in  their 
steamer-chairs  under  the  awnings  they  drew  in  large  doses  of  the  best 
of  tonics  —  pure,  fresh  air.  No  patient  was  allowed  to  leave  the  wards 
after  sundown.  Even  on  days  when  the  convalescents  could  not  leave 
the  wards  —  and  these  were  fortunately  few  —  the  wards  were  not 
uncomfortable.  A  chart  of  the  temperature,  as  indicated  by  a  thermom 
eter  hung  in  the  pilot-house  on  the  upper  deck  and  by  thermometers 
hung  in  the  wards,  showed  an  average  temperature  of  80°  F.  on  deck, 
and  of  85°  in  the  wards.  This  represents  the  average  temperature 
while  the  ship  was  in  tropical  waters  on  her  third  trip. 

Mortality.  —  Of  the  two  hundred  and  thirty-six  patients  five  died  — 
three  of  the  Santiago  men  and  two  of  the  Porto  Rican.  One  of  the 
Santiago  men  died  before  we  left  the  harbor,  and  two  more  the  first 
night  out ;  all  three  men  were  desperately  ill  when  brought  on  board  ;  the 
•cause  of  death  was  either  typhoid  or  malaria  complicated  by  dysentery. 
One  of  the  Porto  Rican  patients  died  of  typhoid  fever ;  the  other  of 
transverse  myelitis ;  one  came  to  us  in  a  state  of  collapse,  the  other 
with  complete  paralysis  of  his  lower  extremities  and  of  the  muscles 
controlling  the  bladder  and  rectum.  The  total  mortality  was  1.49  per 
cent.  The  mortality  among  the  Santiago  men  was  2.97  percent; 
among  the  Porto  Rican  patients  .85  per  cent.  The  percentages  given 
represent  simply  the  mortality  among  the  patients  while  on  the  boat. 
A  number  died  in  the  hospitals  after  reaching  Boston.  In  fact,  some 
of  the  men  who,  while  on  the  boat,  ran  normal  temperatures  and  spent 
most  of  their  time  on  deck  were  afterwards  admitted  to  the  Boston 
hospitals  seriously  ill  with  amebic  dysentery  or  malaria,  and  several  of 
them  died. 


1 66  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

The  patients,  in  general,  improved  very  much  during  the  voyage ;  in 
fact,  it  can  be  said  that  all,  those  who  died  excepted,  left  the  ship  in 
much  better  condition  than  when  they  came  aboard  her.  The  malarias 
complicated  by  diarrhoea  or  dysentery  improved  the  least.  Drugs  and 
the  attending  physician  played  a  comparatively  small  part  in  bringing 
about  this  improvement.  The  pure,  bracing  sea  air,  the  good  food,  and 
careful  dieting  had  much  to  do  with  it.'  But  the  great  factors  were 
two :  first,  the  splendid  work  of  the  nurses  and  baymen.  Too  much 
praise  cannot  be  given  to  them.  Under  the  most  trying  circumstances, 
and  under  conditions  that  were  often  most  disagreeable  and  distressing, 
these  women  and  men  rendered  magnificent  service ;  they  were  able, 
willing,  tireless,  and  uncomplaining.  It  is  only  their  just  due  to  say 
that  very  much  of  the  success  of  the  hospital  ship  was  due  to  her 
excellent  corps  of  nurses. 

The  mental  effect  produced  by  the  fact  that  they  were  homeward 
bound  was  the  other  great  factor.  Sick  men  who  would  have  died 
without  a  struggle  in  the  camps  and  hospitals  took  a  new  grip  on  life, 
and  were  filled  with  a  determination  to  live  when  they  realized  that 
every  throb  of  the  engines  brought  them  nearer  to  Massachusetts  and 
home.  One  cannot  well  describe  the  effect  of  such  a  thought  on  men, 
but  one  can  see  despair  give  way  to  hope,  and  resignation  to  resolution, 
—  that  must  have  its  effect  upon  disease. 

The  good  'accomplished  by  hospital  ships  in  the  late  war,  and  their 
valuable  services  to  the  sick  of  both  the  army  and  navy,  assure  them  a 
place  in  the  war  of  the  future.  The  time  when  it  was  considered 
humane  and  just  to  carry  sick  on  ill-fitted  transport  ships  has  passed. 
Note  the  great  mortality  among  the  men  carried  north  from  Santiago 
on  transports.  And  yet  this  should  occasion  no  surprise ;  for  transports 
had  not  the  conveniences  either  in  berths  or  medical  supplies ;  they 
were  officered  by  men  not  in  the  regular  military  service,  to  whom  the 
requests  and  advice  of  the  physician  is  of  small  import  and  from  whom 
no  redress  is  obtainable.  Let  the  transport  remain  for  the  well  and 
strong,  but  let  the  properly  fitted,  well-officered,  and  well-stocked 
hospital  ship  be  considered  the  only  humane  way  of  carrying  the  sick 
and  wounded. 

Yet  even  hospital  ships  are  not  without  their  limits  and  disadvantages^ 


Medical  and  Surgical  History  of  Hospital  Ship  "Bay  Stated       167 

There  is  somewhat  less  working  room  on  them  than  in  the  land  hospi 
tals  ;  this,  however,  is  of  small  importance,  for  one  soon  becomes 
accustomed  to  working  in  limited  quarters. 

Sea-sickness,  as  far  as  we  could  observe,  had  no  marked  ill  effect  on 
the  patients.  Less  than  10  per  cent  were  affected  after  the  first 
twenty-four  hours  out.  Of  course,  some  patients  were  unable  to  take 
much  food  or  medicine  by  the  mouth  for  twenty-four  hours.  For 
tunately,  whether  by  chance  or  otherwise,  our  sickest  cases  were  but 
little  affected.  It  is  possible  that  after  abdominal  operations  the 
vomiting  of  sea-sickness  would  be  a  very  unpleasant  feature ;  but,  on 
the  whole,  sea-sickness  is  not  a  marked  disadvantage. 

Diagnoses  were  sent  with  the  patients  in  a  good  proportion  of  the 
cases;  but  we  rarely  received  any  history  of  the  cases,  of  the  run  of 
the  temperature,  or  of  the  previous  treatment.  We  depended  solely 
on  what  we  could  learn  from  the  patient  and  what  we  could  see  for 
ourselves.  This  was  not  ideal.  The  defect,  however,  is  capable  of 
easy  amendment.  It  should  be  a  matter  of  routine  that  with  each 
patient  there  should  be  sent  a  short  r'sum /of  his  case. 

The  factor  that  limits  most  —  and  it  limits  it  seriously  —  the  use  of 
a  hospital  ship  is  the  problem  of  getting  patients  to  the  ship  without 
doing  them  serious  or  even  fatal  harm.  What  class  of  patients  can 
hospital  ships  take  and  take  safely?  If  all  military  camps  and  hospitals 
were  on  the  seashore,  with  good  docks  and  landings  convenient,  hos 
pital  ships  could  handle  with  safety  any  class  of  patients  with  almost 
any  degree  of  sickness.  But  unfortunately  camps  and  hospitals  must 
sometimes  be  inland,  and  the  route  to  the  sea  must  often  be  long  and 
difficult.  When  disease  invaded  the  United  States  Army  in  the  tropics 
there  came  a  cry  from  the  friends  of  the  soldiers  to  get  the  sick  men 
north.  It  was  a  very  natural  but  often  a  thoughtless  call.  Undoubtedly 
lives  were  sacrificed  by  the  unnecessary  moving  of  patients.  Consider 
for  a  moment  the  actual  conditions :  at  Santiago  the  patients  we 
received  had  to  be  brought  in  army  ambulances  over  from  four  to  six 
miles  of  rough,  rocky  road,  and  then  were  only  at  the  docks  whence 
they  had  to  be  moved  first  to  boats  and  then  to  the  ship.  All  this 
consumes  energy  —  priceless  to  men  as  sick  as  they.  Again,  accidents 
may  happen.  Ambulances  were  said  to  have  broken  down  and  even 


1 68  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

overturned  when  bringing  the  sick  to  the  dock,  and  that  meant  delay 
and  more  moving.  In  Porto  Rico  transportation  over  eighteen  miles 
of  wretched  road  was  necessary.  In  this  eighteen  miles  were  six  or 
seven  fords,  which  in  an  hour's  time  might  have  become  impassable 
rivers  ;  streams  in  that  country  rise  from  four  to  six  feet  in  an  hour.  The 
possibilities  may  be  imagined.  Under  such  circumstances,  is  it  at  all 
wonderful  that  we  received  many  men  in  a  state  of  complete  exhaustion 
and  some  in  a  state  of  collapse  ?  The  greatest  judgment  must  be  exer 
cised  in  selecting  cases  for  hospital  ships.  It  is  questionable  whether 
it  is  not  much  better  for  very  sick  men  to  remain  at  a  fairly  good  hos 
pital,  even  in  a  tropical  country,  than  to  be  carted^over  six  to  eighteen 
miles  of  rough  road  in  order  to  reach  even  excellent  hospital  ships. 

On  the  other  hand,  a  hospital  ship  should  not  be  turned  into  a  mere 
transport  by  filling  her  up  with  convalescents  —  men  who  are  practi 
cally  well.  Errors  of  judgment  will  creep  in,  however,  and  if  they 
must  be  made,  let  them  be  rather  in  the  direction  of  taking  convales 
cents  than  of  taking  men  who  are  too  sick.  For  in  taking  the  former 
you  do  no  injury  to  the  men  themselves,  and  you  aid  the  regimental 
surgeon  by  taking  just  so  many  men  off  his  sick  call  and  giving  him  so 
much  more  time  for  his  hospitals. 

In  one  way  the  "  Bay  State  "  did  not  have  the  opportunity  of  show 
ing  her  entire  usefulness.  Had  she  been  near  the  scene  of  an  engage 
ment  the  ship  could  have  been  of  great  assistance  in  caring  for  the 
wounded.  Even  if  they  were  too  far  away  for  immediate  transporta 
tion  to  the  ship,  yet,  with  our  facilities  for  making  a  temporary  shore 
camp,  with  our  large  store  of  surgical  supplies  and  apparatus,  we  could 
have  rendered  good  service.  We  would  have  been  at  our  best,  per 
haps,  if  an  engagement  had  taken  place  in  our  immediate  neighbor 
hood,  for  the  ship  had  a  fully-equipped  operating-room,  in  which  were 
two  operating-tables  and  all  facilities  for  doing  aseptic  surgical  work. 

As  we  look  back  on  the  whole  incident,  the  thing,  perhaps,  that  gives 
us  the  greatest  pleasure -and  satisfaction  is  the  fact  that  we  never  have 
heard  of  a  patient  complaining  of  his  treatment  while  on  the  "  Bay 
State."  The  men  were  usually  courteous  and  invariably  grateful  for 
even  the  slightest  attention.  We  cannot  but  feel  that  any  effort  we 
made  or  any  time  we  gave  has  been  fully  repaid  by  their  appreciation. 


THE   NURSING   CARE   ON   A   HOSPITAL   SHIP. 

BY  Miss  C.  W.  CAYFORD,  BOSTON. 

THE  problem  of  the  amount  and  character  of  the  nursing  force  on 
a  hospital  ship  was  unique.  The  factors  entering  into  this  problem  for 
consideration  were  :  the  uncertainty  of  the  length  of  time  the  patients 
would  be  on  board  ship,  the  question  as  to  the  character  of  the 
illness,  whether  surgical  or  medical,  and  the  entirely  unknown  effect  of 
sea-sickness.  It  was  finally  determined  by  the  committee  in  charge  of 
the  selection  of  nurses,  for  a  maximum  capacity  of  one  hundred  and 
fourteen  patients  to  have  six  nurses  (women)  and  six  bay  men  (male 
nurses).  Before  leaving  Santiago  Harbor,  and  before  the  element  of 
sea-sickness  had  made  itself  felt,  it  was  evident  that  the  working  force 
was  far  too  small,  owing  to  the  fact  that  through  some  misunderstand 
ing  no  provision  was  made  for  the  scullery  work  of  the  wards,  and  this 
had  to  be  done  by  the  nurses.  Naturally  this  diminished  the  strength 
of  the  nursing  force.  Later  this  work  was  done  by  mess  attendants, 
who  were  engaged  for  service  alone  in  the  wards.  So  that  on  our  last 
voyage,  with  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  patients,  the  day  force  con 
sisted  of  two  nurses,  two  baymen,  and  two  mess  attendants  for  each 
ward.  The  entire  night  work  of  both  wards  was  done  by  one  nurse 
and  two  baymen.  This  seems  a  small  proportion  of  night  nurses  for 
medical  work,  but  it  was  found  to  be  sufficient,  as  on  all  three  trips  the 
wards  were  noticeably  quiet  at  night,  the  patients  sleeping  remarkably 
well.  The  difficulty,  or,  more  accurately  speaking,  the  impossibility,  of 
properly  caring  for  bed  patients  in  an  upper  berth  was  met  by  assigning 
these  berths  to  convalescent  patients.  Even  in  the  lower  berths  the 
bathing  of  patients  and  changing  of  linen  was  considered  with  misgiv 
ing  by  those  of  us  trained  to  consider  certain  details  of  bed-making 
and  in  the  handling  of  bed  patients  as  essential  to  good  nursing.  This 
was  due  to  the  limited  space  between  the  tiers  of  berths  and  the  neces 
sity  of  working,  in  most  cases,  entirely  on  one  side^  and  the  box-like 
effect  given  to  the  bed  by  the  rolling  rod  when  corded  to  the  bed  frames. 


!7°  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

However,  it  became  evident  early  on  the  first  voyage  that  what  was 
needed  was  the  essential  life-saving  care  of  the  patients.  To  the  men 
taken  from  the  field  hospital  of  Santiago  it  mattered  little  that  the 
under  sheet  was  at  times  somewhat  wrinkled.  What  they  needed  most 
were  baths,  good  food,  good  water,  and  plenty  of  them.  These  we 
were  able  to  give  them.  In  fact,  it  is  a  questioq  whether  in  some 
instances  they  did  not  have  more  than  a  sufficient  quantity  of  food, 
owing  to  the  necessity  in  the  convalescent  cases  of  depending  largely 
upon  the  patient  for  a  report  as  to  his  condition,  — and  naturally  after 
a  long  period  of  limited  rations  he  was  not  eager  to  furnish  informa 
tion  that  would  be  likely  to  cut  down  his  food  supply ;  and  occasion 
ally,  I  fear,  to  the  pleasure  of  seeing  those  hungry  men  eat  at  times 
overruling  the  better  judgment  of  the  nurse.  The  bathing  could  be 
carried  out  without  discomfort  to  the  patient,  but  was  more  or  less  of  a 
strain  on  the  back  of  the  nurse,  and  was  an  especially  trying  thing  to 
do  when  the  nurse  was  sea-sick. 

The  ward  clothing  of  the  patients  when  not  worn  proved  a  great 
source  of  annoyance ;  when  not  on  the  bed  —  which  was  most  of  the 
time  — they  were  on  the  floor,  making  the  wards  very  disorderly  and 
causing  much  loss  of  time  and  patience  on  the  part  of  the  nurses. 
Later  this  was  very  satisfactorily  overcome  by  having  clothes  bags  hung 
at  the  foot  of  the  bed.  The  idea  of  the  bag  was  suggested  by  the 
individual  toilet  cases,  containing  brush,  comb,  tooth-brush,  and  wash 
cloth,  attached  to  each  berth,  which  were  so  much  appreciated  by  both 
patients  and  nurses. 

Considering  the  size  of  the  galley,  the  service  of  the  food  was  remark 
ably  satisfactory.  It  would,  however,  have  been  a  decided  advantage 
could  some  place  have  been  provided  where  the  nurses  might  have  pre 
pared  toast,  gruels,  eggs,  etc.,  especially  for  the  feeding  in  the  typhoid- 
fever  cases. 

Very  little  laundry  work  was  done  while  the  patients  were  on  board, 
owing  to  the  limited  supply  of  fresh  water,  and  to:the  fact  that  the 
laundry  opened  directly  into  the  after  ward.  Naturally  the  steam  and 
heat  were  very  objectionable.  Fortunately  the  supply  of  ward  linen 
was  more  than  sufficient  for  an  entire  trip ;  otherwise  we  should  have 
been  put  to  serious  inconvenience. 


The  Nursing  Care  on  a  Hospital  Ship.  171 

The  most  practical  thing  for  a  nurse's  uniform  on  board  a  hospital 
ship  is  a  short  skirt  of  fairly  heavy  material  (like  duck  or  denim),  shirt 
waist  with  celluloid  collar,  and  gingham  aprons.  The  whole  should  be 
of  some  neutral  color  —  blue,  brown,  or  green,  as  very  light  or  white 
clothing  is  unpractical  on  ship-board. 

In  the  matter  of  ventilation  the  ship  had  a  decided  advantage  over 
most  hospitals.  With  the  exception  of  watching  the  ports  in  case  of 
storm  or  heavy  sea,  no  thought  or  time  was  required  in  its  regulation. 
The  air  was  always  fairly  pure,  except  when  the  weather  obliged  the 
wind-sails  to  be  discontinued  and  the  hatches  to  be  covered,  and  the 
heat  in  the  wards  was  always  at  a  minimum. 

Throughout  the  entire  trip  the  almost  childish  delight  of  the  men  in 
the  enjoyment  of  the  comforts  and  luxuries  of  the  ship  was  quite  touch 
ing.  The  expense  of  having  a  ship's  library  was  amply  justified  on  this 
trip.  The  books  were  eagerly  sought,  even  by  men  too  ill  to  read.  It 
was  really  affecting  the  way  in  which  patients  would  tuck  away  the 
books  for  fear  they  would  be  taken  away.  They  seemed  to  cling  to 
them  as  a  connecting  link  to  civilization.  The  extraordinary  part  of 
this  mental  process  was  that  often  the  most  illiterate  were  most  desir 
ous  of  having  a  book. 

I  think  some  of  the  conclusions  to  be  fairly  drawn  from  our  experi 
ence  in  the  nursing  department  of  the  ship  are  :  — 

1 i )  That  seriously  ill  patients  cannot  be  nursed  as  efficiently  as  on 
land. 

( 2 )  That  the  mental  influence  of  a  voyage  home,  the  ease  of  provid 
ing  the  absolute  necessities,  make  a  hospital  ship  of  great  value. 

(3)  That,  contrary  to  expectation,  sea-sickness  did  not  apparently 
interfere  with  the  improvement  of  patients  even  when  fairly  ill. 


WORK  OF  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEER  AID 
ASSOCIATION  IN  SANTIAGO. 

BY  E.  G.  BRACKETT,  M.  D.,  BOSTON. 

IN  the  latter  part  of  July  it  was  decided  by  the  Volunteer  Aid  Asso 
ciation  to  send  a  representative  to  the  Island  of  Cuba  who  should  have 
direct  charge  of  the  distribution  of  the  supplies  sent  by  them,  and  who 
could  determine  from  personal  observation  the  needs  of  the  Massachu 
setts  men.  Supplies  had  been  sent  by  different  transports,  but  not 
being  in  charge  of  any  one,  and  there  being  no  one  to  assume  the 
responsibility  for  the  Association,  it  was  a  question  whether  such  sup 
plies  would  reach  their  intended  destination. 

On  the  24th  of  July  I  was  asked  to  take  this  position,  and  start  on 
the  25th  with  supplies  intended  for  the  men  in  Santiago.  These 
supplies  consisted  of  clothing,  hospital  supplies,  prepared  food,  and 
delicacies  for  the  sick,  besides  special  contributions  by  friends  and 
local  societies.  The  lack  of  information  of  the  conditions  in  Cuba  at 
this  time  made  the  possibilities  of  the  errand  uncertain,  except  that  the 
report  of  the  sufferings  from  hardships  and  from  disease  allowed  no  doubt 
of  its  necessity.  My  directions  from  the  headquarters  of  the  Associa 
tion  were,  therefore,  somewhat  indefinite,  and  I  was  asked  to  use  my 
judgment  in  the  distribution  of  supplies  taken  by  me,  and  those  which 
had  already  been  sent  by  the  "  Harvard  "  and  "  Yale,"  and  after  arrival 
to  represent  the  Association  in  Santiago.  The  work  was  intended 
primarily  for  the  Massachusetts  troops,  but  it  was  desired  that  aid 
should  be  extended  to  other  volunteers,  and  to  the  regulars  when  such 
was  possible.  The  method  of  work  therefore,  was  entirely  undecided, 
and  for  credentials  I  carried  letters  from  the  headquarters  of  the 
Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association,  and  from  Gov.  Wolcott. 

It  was  necessary  on  account  of  the  blockade  and  the  quarantine  of 
the  Santiago  Province  to  g*o  by  the  way  of  Jamaica.  Accordingly, 
arrangements  were  made  by  the  Boston  Fruit  Company  to  ship  the  sup- 


Work  of  the  Massachusetts  Aid  Association  in  Santiago.         173 

plies  on  the  steamer  "  Albert  Dumois  "  to  Jamaica,  and  to  proceed 
from  thence  by  sailing  vessel  across  to  Santiago.  By  courtesy  of  the 
Fruit  Company,  I  was  enabled  to  precede  the  goods  and  take  passage 
on  the  steamer  "  Brookline,"  arriving  two  days  ahead  of  the  "  Dumois." 
Then  the  goods  were  transferred  to  a  thirty-ton  sailing  vessel  called  the 
"  Little  Wanderer,"  the  spare  space  in  the  hold  being  filled  with  barrels 
of  limes  which  were  obtained  in  Port  Ontario,  and  after  a  three-days 
trip  we  reached  Santiago. 

At  the  time  of  arrival  the  city  was  in  much  the  same  condition  as 
after  the  surrender,  except  the  work  of  cleaning  the  streets  had  begun, 
and  the  American  troops  were  beginning  to  be  sent  back  to  the  States. 
The  city  was  under  military  law,  and  was  filled  with  the  American  and 
Spanish  soldiers,  and  with  the  natives,  who  had  not  left  the  province 
during  the  siege.  The  city  was  still  in  a  condition  of  extreme  filth,  it 
was  the  beginning  of  the  rainy  season,  and  the  midsummer  heat  was 
intense.  There  was  plenty  of  the  army  rations  for  the  well,  but  a  great 
scarcity  of  proper  food  and  medicine  for  the  sick  and  convalescent, 
and  the  sickness  among  our  troops,  as  well  as  among  the  natives  and 
the  Spanish  prisoners,  had  begun  to  be  alarming.  This  sickness  was 
principally  a  pernicious  form  of  malaria,  and  there  was  some  typhoid, 
and  yellow  fever.  It  was  at  once  apparent  that  the  special  needs 
which  could  not  be  met  in  the  city  were  suitable  food  for  the  sick  and 
convalescent,  and  hospital  supplies,  and  the  Association  was  at  once 
cabled  to  that  effect.  It  is  to  the  credit  of  the  officials  at  headquarters 
that  within  two  days  from  the  receipt  of  this  cablegram  a  shipment  of 
such  supplies  was  sent. 

The  work  of  the  representative  of  the  Association  was  evident,  but 
the  method  of  carrying  this  out  was  met  with  the  greatest  difficulty. 
The  Cubans  were  not  disposed  to  render  aid  in  any  way,  and  could 
only  be  persuaded  to  work  by  the  payment  of  exorbitant  prices,  while 
the  lack  of  interpreters  where  Spanish  alone  was  spokeh  made  confu 
sion  of  otherwise  simple  work.  The  roads  were  in  such  a  condition 
that  the  transportation  by  means  of  the  only  method  possible,  the  small 
drays,  was  extremely  slow.  I  at  once  reported  to  General  Wood,  and 
he  extended  every  courtesy  to  me  during  the  whole  of  my  stay  on  the 
.island.  Every  American  had  already  more  than  he  could  do,  and 


174  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Associatioti. 

therefore  one  could  not  look  to  them  for  material  aid,  but  every  possi 
ble  assistance  to  aid  in  the  work  was  always  given  to  the  Association's 
representative.  After  a  day's  search,  a  suitable  warehouse  was  found 
on  Enramados  Street,  near  the  water  front,  and  to  this  the  goods  were 
transferred  by  means  of  the  small  drays  from  the  wharf.  It  was  neces 
sary  in  carrying  on  this  work  to  constantly  guard  all  of  the  supplies, 
otherwise  they  would  be  stolen  by  the  native  Cubans. 

The  work  for  the  Association  on  the  island  was  evident,  for  there 
was  no  question  as  to  the  needs  of  the  men  among  the  troops,  and  this 
consisted  mainly  of  food  for  men  in  the  camp,  and  hospital  clothing 
and  supplies  for  those  in  the  hospitals.  The  hospitals  especially  needed 
prepared  food,  soups,  stimulants,  and  hospital  clothing,  and  fortunately 
there  was  a  generous  supply  of  pajamas,  hospital  bedding,  etc.,  which 
was  always  found  to  be  of  great  use. 

There  were  two  ways  which  could  be  used  in  the  disposition  of  the 
supplies,  both  to  the  men  in  the  camp  and  in  the  hospitals  :  one  was 
the  personal  distribution  of  the  goods,  which,  under  the  circumstances, 
would  have  involved  more  time  than  would  have  been  possible  to  give, 
particularly  since  no  help  could  be  obtained  in  means  of  transporta 
tion,  and  it  also  would  have  involved  the  possible  friction  with  the 
prerogatives  of  the  officials.  The  other  method  was  to  determine  the 
special  needs  from  the  surgeons,  the  commissaries,  and  such  of  the 
officials  who  had  charge  of  supplying  the  companies,  and  through  them 
to  see  that  the  goods  reached  their  proper  destination.  There  were 
always  some  such  men  available,  through  whom  such  distribution  of 
the  goods  could  be  made,  and  without  interference  with  the  regula 
tions  and  routine,  and  this  proved  to  be  the  most  satisfactory.  The 
distribution  was  made  according  to  the  comparative  relative  need,  and 
was  sent  either  by  the  regimental  teams  or  by  small  drays,  which  could 
be  hired  in  the  city.  This  latter  always  proved  to  be  a  slow  method, 
as  the  loads  carried  were  very  small,  and  usually  it  was  necessary  for 
some  one  to  accompany  these  supplies  to  be  sure  of  their  safe  arrival. 
At  this  time  nothing  in  the  line  of  additional  food  could  be  obtained 
in  the  city ;  therefore  it  was  necessary  to  rely  on  the  supplies  which 
had  been  brought,  and  to  make  the  best  disposition  possible  of  them. 

At  the  time  of  arrival  there  were  two  Massachusetts  regiments  which 


Work  of  the  Massachusetts  Aid  Association  in  Santiago.        175 

were  camped  on  the  island,  the  Second  and  the  Ninth.  The  Second 
were  stationed  about  two  miles  north  of  the  city,  and  it  was  expected 
that  they  would  be  sent  home  within  a  short  time.  The  Ninth  were 
camped  on  the  hill  at  San  Juan,  and  it  was  generally  understood  that 
their  stay  on  the  island  was  probably  to  be  an  extended  one,  which 
proved  to  be  true.  Since  the  Second  Massachusetts  was  expected  to 
leave  so  soon,  it  had  little  need  of  the  supplies  of  clothing,  but  required 
food  for  the  sick,  both  for  use  in  the  camp,  and  on  the  transport  on  the 
way  home.  At  this  time  some  of  the  supplies  which  had  been  pre 
viously  sent  by  the  transports  "Harvard"  and  "Yale"  arrived  in 
Santiago,  and  were  taken  in  charge  by  the  Association.  No  word  was 
received  of  their  arrival,  but  one  lot  was  found  on  the  wharf,  where 
it  had  been  unloaded  from  one  of  the  lighters,  and  the  second  lot 
was  found  on  board  one  of  the  large  tugboats,  to  which  it  had  been 
unloaded  from  the  transport.  Many  of  the  boxes  had  been  opened, 
but  in  general  the  shipments  arrived  in  good  order.  Much  of  these 
supplies,  as  well  as  selections  from  the  stores  in  the  warehouse,  were 
sent  to  the  camp  of  this  regiment,  the  selections  being  made  with  the 
probable  short  stay  of  the  regiment  on  the  island  in  view.  Fortunately 
the  orders  to  leave  came  within  a  few  days,  and  these  supplies  were 
used  on  board  the  transport  on  the  way  home. 

The  Ninth  were  in  camp  three  miles  from  the  city,  on  the  San  Juan 
Hill,  and  had  the  same  general  needs  as  the  Second,  but  transporta 
tion  to  this  regiment  was  much  more  difficult,  owing  to  the  distance 
and  the  condition  of  the  roads.  Later  in  August,  from  the  longer 
exposure  to  the  hardships  of  the  climate,  they  being  the  last  to  leave 
the  island,  their  condition  became  such  that  the  need  of  additional 
food  for  the  men  on  duty,  and  for  special  food  for  those  sick  in  quarters 
was  still  more  urgent.  The  majority  of  the  regiment  were  using  only 
the  hardtack  and  coffee  of  the  regular  rations,  and  the  whole  regiment 
began  to  show  the  result  of  their  contained  stay  on  the  island.  Just 
before  the  regiment  left  for  Montauk  a  shipment  of  supplies  sent  by 
the  Association  by  Mr.  Austin  arrived,  and  in  time  for  the  use  on  the 
way  home  on  the  transport.  This  lot  of  supplies  contained  a  large 
quantity  of  prepared  food,  condensed  milk,  etc.,  and  proved  to  be 
most  useful.  At  the  same  time  soups  and  condensed  milk  could  be 


176  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

bought  at  the  commissary  department,  and  a  -sufficient  quantity  was 
obtained  to  last  until  reaching  Montauk. 

During  August  there  was  but  one  hospital,  the  Nautical  Club,  in  the 
city  under  cover,  and  to  this  the  sickest  of  the  men  were  sent.  It  was 
found  that  there  existed  a  scarcity  at  this  hospital  of  hospital  clothing, 
food,  and  stimulants,  and  of  any  kind  of  delicacies  for  the  convales 
cent.  During  the  month  of  August  frequent  donations  of  these  articles, 
as  well  as  the  alkaline  waters,  which  fortunately  could  be  bought  in  the 
city,  were  sent. 

About  the  time  when  the  last  detachment  of  the  Ninth  Regiment 
had  left  the  island  the  representative  of  the  Association  was  asked  by 
General  Wood  to  equip  and  take  charge  of  a  hospital  in  the  city  of 
Santiago.  For  this  there  was  taken  a  building  for-merly  built  for  and 
used  as  a  hospital  by  the  Cubans,  called  the  "  Centro  Benefico,"  but 
which  had  been  closed  for  some  months.  There  was  some  of  the  hos 
pital  furniture  which  could  be  used,  but  in  general  it  was  necessary  to 
select,  for  supplies  could  be  obtained  from  different  sources  throughout 
the  city.  Medicines  at  this  time  were  hard  to  obtain,  but  finally  were 
found  by  collecting  from  the  various  sources  about  the  city,  and  special 
foods  for  the  patients  were  collected  from  the  various  supplies,  which 
later  had  begun  to  come  into  the  city.  At  this  time  there  was  left 
among  the  stores  a  quantity  of  supplies  which  could  be  used  as  hos 
pital  furnishings,  and  much  of  this,  especially  clothing,  was  used  to  fill 
this  need  of  the  hospital. 


CAMP  WIKOFF,  MONTAUK,  L.  L 

BY  W.  H.  PRESCOTT,  M.  D.,  BOSTON. 

I  WENT  to  Montauk,  August  15,  as  agent  of  the  Massachusetts  Volun 
teer  Aid  Association,  and  "  to  establish  a  diet  kitchen  to  provide 
delicacies  for  the  Massachusetts  regiments  which  were  coming."  I 
arrived  at  Camp  Wikoff  about  a  week  after  the  first  patient  was 
admitted  to  the  hospital,  and  stayed  until  there  were  only  twenty 
patients  left. 

When  I  arrived  I  found  a  great  deal  of  confusion  —  there  were  few 
physicians,  fewer  nurses,  and  fewer  still  hospital-corps  men,  and  new 
tents  or  wards  were  being  erected. 

Among  the  other  causes  of  confusion  were  :  (i)  the  limited  number 
of  cots;  (2)  the  difficulty  in  obtaining  supplies  (of  all  sorts)  ;  (3)  the 
lack  of  an  index  of  the  patients;  (4)  the  constant  changes  taking 
place  among  the  patients ;  (5),  the  presence,  in  the  wards,  of  "  out 
siders";*  (6)  the  lack  of  any  policing,  and,  finally,  the  absence  of 
a  firm,  controlling  hand  always  within  reach.  The  surgeon  in  charge, 
Col.  W.  H.  Forwood,  to  whom  I  applied  for  permission  to  erect  a  diet 
kitchen  (without  expense  or  trouble  to  the  Government),  did  not  con 
sider  one  necessary,  and  it  was  nearly  two  weeks  later  when  permission 
was  given  to  Mrs.  Valentine  Mott,  representing  the  Red  Cross  Society. 
Immediately  after  permission  was  obtained  Mrs.  Mary  Hatch  Willard, 
an  expert  dietitian  sent  by  the  Red  Cross  Auxiliary  No.  3,  and  I,  work 
ing  in  hearty  co-operation,  planned,  erected,  an'd  equipped  a  large  diet 
kitchen  with  a  floor  space  of  over  two  thousand  square  feet,  and  capable 
of  providing  the  delicacies  needed  for  fifteen  hundred  men.  It  was 
intended  to  show  that  food  could  be  neatly  and  satisfactorily  prepared 
in  a  kitchen  in  a  field  hospital,  and  it  fulfilled  its  mission.  In  addition 
to  the  diet  kitchen  erected  at  the  General  Hospital  there  were  similar 
kitchens  (although  smaller)  provided  for  the  three  division  hospitals, 
and  additional  equipments  furnished  to  the  one  established  at  the 
Detention  Hospital  by  Dr.  L.  A.  C.  Hughes  and  Miss  Fennessey. 


178  Massachusetts    Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

Almost  the  entire  expense  of  the  erection  and  equipment  of  these 
kitchens  was  borne  by  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association,  as 
well  as  the  running  expenses,  until  they  were  turned  over  to  the  Gov 
ernment,  which  had  also  borne  part  of  the  expense  of  their  establish 
ment.  And  it  seems  to  me  that  it  was  only  necessary  for  the  outside 
".helping  "  societies  to  take  the  initiative,  get  a  thing  started,  and  then 
turn  it  over  to  the  Government.  In  my  experience,  those  in  authority 
were  always  glad  of  help,  and  willingly  accepted  the  things  turned  over 
to  them  where  their  value  had  been  established. 

The  camp  was  an  ideal  one,  situated  as  it  was  at  the  eastern  end  of  • 
Long  Island  —  not  too  far  north  nor  too  far  south  for  the  purposes  for 
which  it  was  started.  It  was  intended  for  a  quarantine  camp  for  those 
soldiers  coming  from  Cuba.  If  it  had  been  farther  north  the  cold 
would  have  affected  the  men  much  more  seriously  than  did  the  air  of 
Montauk ;  if  it  had  been  too  far  south  the  danger  from  the  spread  of 
yellow  fever,  if  it  once  got  started  in  the  camp,  would  have  been  great. 
There  must  be  sufficient  room  for  twenty-five  thousand  men.  The 
water  supply  must  be  good  and  abundant.  This  was  provided  by  the 
two  large  ponds,  into  which  the  horses  and  mules  could  be  driven,  and 
a  well  forty  feet  deep  provided  water  for  the  men.  The  water  in  the 
ponds  was  brackish  but  not  harmful,  that  in  the  well  laxative  but  other 
wise  all  right.  A  large  force  pump  was  put  into  the  well,  which  forced 
the  water  through  two  large  sand  filters  and  then  to  the  different  parts 
of  the  camp. 

The  water  in  the  well,  in  my  opinion,  never  became  contaminated  — 
surely  not  before  the  sand  filters  removed  any  danger  from  its  use, 
even  if  it  had  become  contaminated.  I  used  the  water  all  the  time  I 
was  there  and  never  suffered  any  inconvenience  from  it.  The  water 
pipe  leading  to  the  hospital  broke  a  few  days  after  my  arrival,  and  the 
only  water  for  drinking  purposes  during  the  following  three  days  was 
the  Hygeia  and  Apollinaris,  which  the  Red  Cross  and  Massachusetts 
Volunteer  Aid  Association  furnished. 

The  physicians  varied  as  to  ability  and  character,  as  they  do  in  every 
part  of  the  country ;  some  were  good,  some  were  poor,  but  the  average 
was  above  that  which  you  would  find  in  any  large  city.  One  doctor 
ordered  four  quarts  of  whiskey  for  his  ward,  and  the  patients  received 


Camp   Wikoff,  Montauk,  L.  /.  179 

one  quart,  while  he  kept  the  rest;  he  was  removed  the  next  day. 
Another  suffered  much  from  rheumatism,  for  which  he  took  large  doses 
of  whiskey,  and  on  that  account  was  unable  to  do  his  work,  so  he  was 
relieved.  Another  cut  off  the  uvula  of  a  patient  suffering  with 
diphtheria,  that  he  might  breathe  more  easily,  and  he  was  discharged. 
Another  was  frightened  by  finding  a  case,  as  he  thought,  of  yellow 
fever  and  ran  away.  To  raise  the  average  we  had  three  of  the  promi 
nent  men  of  the  country :  Drs.  Nancrede,  of  Ann  Arbor,  Senn,  of 
Chicago,  and  Delafield,  of  New  York. 

The  nursing  was,  on  the  whole,  good.  The  majority  of  the  female 
nurses,  both  the  trained  nurses  and  the  Sisters  of  Charity,  did  their 
work  conscientiously;  perhaps  the  only  criticism  I  would  make  of 
them  was  that  they  could  not  appreciate  that  the  doctor  was  supreme 
in  his  ward.  I  cannot  say  as  much  for  the  male  nurses,  who  came 
from  the  different  parts  of  the  country,  and  who  found  fault  with 
everything  instead  of  trying  to  make  things  better.  Many  of  them 
stayed  twenty-four  hours  or  less,  and  it  was  a  relief  to  the  authorities 
to  have  them  go.  The  hospital-corps  men  were  for  the  most  part 
untrained,  and  while  they  did  as  well  as  could  be  expected  of  them 
under  the  circumstances,  it  has  seemed  to  me  that  there  was  a  great 
mistake  made  in  the  manner  of  their  enrolment,  and  that  not  enough 
inducements  were  offered  to  procure  men  qualified  for  such  work. 

There  were  five  hospitals  in  all  —  the  General,  which  at  one  time  had 
a  capacity  of  eighteen  hundred  beds,  the  Detention,  with  about  four 
hundred  beds,  and  three  division  hospitals,  which  had  altogether  about 
four  hundred  and  fifty  beds.  The  Detention  Hospital  was  in  Detention 
Camp,  and  was  the  hospital  to  which  all  suspicious  cases  were  sent. 
When  I  arrived  this  hospital  was  under  the  care  of  a  captain  in 
the  regular  army,  —  a  bright,  capable  man,  but  utterly  unfit  for  his 
position,  because  he  was  under  the  influence  of  liquor  a  part  of  every 
day.  He  was  removed  and  Major  Ebert,  who  had  won  a  name  for 
bravery  and  ability  at  Santiago,  was  appointed,  and  again  proved  him 
self  to  be  a  man  of  exceptional  ability.  The  General  Hospital  was 
under  the  direction  of  Major  C.  L.  Heizman,  who  had  as  assistants 
Major  I.  C.  Brown,  Major  L.  B.'  Almy,  and  Major  H.  D.  Thomason. 
All  of  these  were  men  of  ability  and  did  their  work  carefully  and 


iSo  Massachusetts   Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

thoroughly,  but  were  handicapped  by  the  lack  of  authority.  The  plan 
of  the  hospital  was  an  excellent  one,  but  there  was  a  lack  of  executive 
ability  in  the  man  who  had  charge  of  its  construction  and  general 
charge  of  all  the  hospitals.  It  has  seemed  to  me  that  this  .was  one  of 
the  "  outs  "  of  the  camp,  for  there  was  needed  great  executive  ability 
and  the  power  to  delegate  authority  to  "  the  heads  of  departments." 
The  surgeon  in  charge  had  to  sign  every  order,  and,  as  he  was  not  (and 
of  necessity  could  not  be)  always  on  hand,  the  work  dragged  and  much 
confusion  resulted.  Another  source  of  trouble  was  the  absence  of 
written  orders  and  the  liability  of  having  orders  countermanded  almost 
as  soon  as  they  were  issued.  Another  "  out "  was  due  to  the  fact  that 
the  Government  did  not  use  the  water-way  for  the  transportation  of 
food  and  supplies. 

The  Long  Island  Railroad  is  a  one-track  road,  and  it  could  not  take 
care  of  all  the  supplies  and  people  which  it  was  necessary  to  bring  to 
Montauk.  The  management  of  the  road  is  to  be  congratulated  upon 
the  splendid  work  done  and  the  great  ability  shown,  but  in  spite  of  all 
that  could  be  done  there  were  many  vexatious  delays  and  much  hard 
ship  as  the  result.  The  Volunteer  Aid  Association,  through  the  gener 
osity  of  one  of  its  members,  was  able  to  provide  the  tug  "Alert,"  which 
made  bi-daily  trips  between  New  London  and  Montauk,  thus  making 
it  possible  for  me  to  get  the  supplies  sent  at  regular  times  (and  on 
time),  and  also  made  it  possible  for  me  to  procure  things  quickly  when, 
for  any  reason,  they  were  needed. 

The  means  provided  for  the  furloughing  of  the  men  were  inadequate, 
especially  at  first,  and  there  was  suffering  in  consequence.  But  many 
distressing  cases  of  men  taken  ill  at  the  station  and  on  the  train  were 
due  to  other  causes.  The  men  had  come  from  Cuba,  and  their  cere 
bration  was  slow  and  poor,  and  they  could  not  be  relied  upon  (I  am 
speaking  of  those  in  the  hospitals)  to  do  what  they  were  told.  The 
physicians  were  slow  to  realize  that  this  was  so,  and  when  a  man  had 
no  rapidity  of  pulse,  no  elevation  of  temperature,  and  said  he  felt  well, 
he  was  recommended  for  furlough.  It  takes  some  time  for  a  furlough  to 
be  made  out,  especially  if  there  are  fifty  to  seventy  of  them  and  only  a 
few  clerks  to  do  the  work.  The  furlough  was  made  out  at  the  hospital, 
and  then  the  men  walked  to  the  station,  a  distance  of  a  mile  and  a 


Camp    Wikoff,  Montauk,  L.  7.  181 

half,  through  the  dust  and  in  the  sun.  When  they  arrived  at  the 
station  their  transportation  and  commutation  of  rations  had  to  be  made 
out  at  the  Quartermaster's  Department,  which  meant  a  farther  walk  of 
three  hundred  yards  (one  hundred  and  fifty  each  way)  through  sand 
up  to  one's  ankles.  Of  course  it  took  a  good  deal  of  time  to  do  these 
things  and  by  the  time  the  train  was  ready  to  leave  the  men  were  tired 
out  and  some  of  them  quite  ill  (their  illness  perhaps  aggravated  by  a 
visit  to  the  lunch  counter  and  its  pies).  I  saw  many  patients  having 
severe  chills  in  the  barn-like  waiting-room  of  the  station,  but  it  was 
seldom  indeed  that  a  man,  no  matter  how  ill  he  was,  could  be  induced 
to  return  to  the  hospital.  They  were  furloughed,  and  all  you  could  do 
was  to  reason  with  them,  and  they  could  not  understand  any  argument. 
They  wanted  to  get  home,  and  were  near  the  train  which  was  going 
towards  their  home,  and  nothing  you  could  say  would  make  them  go 
back ;  not  that  they  had  been  badly  .treated,  but  it  was  going  away 
from  home  and  they  were  going  home.  The  quartermaster's  office 
was  finally  moved  to  a  tent  near  the  station,  and  the  Red  Cross  opened 
a  tent  right  across  the  way  where  the  sick  men  could  be  taken  care  of 
before  the  train  was  ready  to  start. 

Then  the  long  railroad  journey  was  trying  at  best,  and  especially  so 
when  made  in  an  ordinary  car  without  comforts.  Mr.  Ernest  McMil 
lan,  of  New  York,  with  the  aid  and  co-operation  of  Mrs.  Willard,  pro 
vided  a  hospital  car  which  he  ran  at  his  own  expense  until  it  was  turned 
over  to  the  Government.  The  car  (an  ordinary  baggage  one)  was 
lined  throughout  with  white  oil-cloth,  and  cots  and  reclining  chairs  put 
in.  A  nurse  and  doctor  went  with  the  car  on  each  trip,  and  all  the 
medicines  and  nourishment  needed  were  taken  along.  Mrs.  Whitelaw 
Reid  soon  after  sent  two  Wagner  cars  to  be  used  in  the  same  way,  but 
even  under  these  circumstances  a  dusty  ride  of  four  or  seven  hours  is 
a  strain  upon  a  sick  man.  After  the  second  or  third  week  a  "board 
of  investigation "  was  appointed,  which  went  around  every  morning 
and  decided  what  patients  were  able  to  be  sent  away,  and  after  that  I 
do  not  know  of  any  one  who  suffered  material  injury  because  of  his 
being  moved.  When  for  any  reason  a  very  sick  man  had  to  be  moved, 
the  cot  upon  which  he  was  lying  was  taken  and  put  into  an  ambulance, 
driven  to  the  station,  and  then  put  into  the  "  hospital  car  "  and  sent 


182  Massachusetts   Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

along  on  the  train,  so  there  was  no  moving  of  the  patient  between  the 
hospital  at  Montauk  and  the  one  to  which  he  was  sent.  The  nurses  in 
the  "  hospital  cars  "  kept  a  record  of  the  temperatures,  etc.,  of  all  the 
patients  carried,  which  will  be  published  at  some  future  time. 

A  great  deal  of  my  time  was  spent  in  the  distribution  of  the  supplies 
sent  by  the  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Aid  Association  to  the  Second 
and  Ninth  Massachusetts  regiments,  and  to  every  regiment  of  regulars. 
In  this  work  I  was  aided  by  Graf  ton  Gushing,  Esq  ,  who  rendered 
invaluable  assistance,  and  who  soon  became  known  to  every  regiment 
as  the  distributor  of  Massachusetts  benevolence. 

There  was  distress  at  Camp  Wikoff,  some  of  which  was  relieved  and 
more  prevented  by  the  various  societies  which  had  representatives 
there.  A  great  deal  of  that  distress  was  due  to  the  lack  of  prepara 
tion  and  to  the  nature  of  the  case,  but  in  spite  of  it  all,  in  my  opinion, 
the  hospitals  at  Montauk  became  model  field  hospitals. 

Complaint  has  been  made  that  taps  were  not  sounded,  salutes  fired, 
nor  sufficient  attention  paid  to  the  dead.  As  the  cemetery  was  within 
one  hundred  yards  of  the  hospital,  the  cruelty  and  danger  of  taps  and 
salutes  can  be  readily  appreciated.  On  one  day  there  were  seventeen 
deaths,  and  if  these  ceremonies  (proper  and  impressive  though  they 
be)  had  been  performed,  I  believe  that  fifty  more  men  would  have  died 
among  the  sixteen  hundred  patients,  then  in  the  hospital,  as  a  result. 

In  conclusion,  I  wish  to  pay  my  tribute  of  praise  to  the  regular  sol 
dier.  I  found  him  to  be  brave,  uncomplaining,  obedient  to  orders, 
above  the  average  in  intelligence.  No  matter  where  he  may  be  put, 
the  American  soldier  will  be  a  credit  to  the  nation  and  bring  honor  to 
himself. 


RECEPTION  OF  THE  SICK  SOLDIERS  IN  BOSTON. 

BY  F.  G.  BALCH,  M.  D.,  BOSTON. 

THE  reception  and  transportation  of  soldiers  here  in  Boston  was  an 
entirely  new  problem  to  us,  and  as  the  system  which  we  finally  used 
was  the  outcome  of  our  experience  with  several  shiploads  and  train- 
loads  of  sick  men  I  shall  not  try  to  speak  of  each  occasion  on  which 
we  had  such  work  to  do,  but  of  the  plan  which  we  finally  found  most 
satisfactory  in  use.  When  Dr.  Bradford  was  notified  that  men  were  to 
be  sent  to  Boston,  or  were  already  on  the  way  there,  several  questions 
arose  which  had  to  be  solved  promptly :  ( i )  How  many  men  were 
coming?  (2)  What  was  their  condition?  Here  we  recognized  two 
classes,  that  is,  those  who  could  sit  up  and  those  who  must  go  in 
ambulances.  These  classes  were  again  subdivided  into  those  who 
could  bear  transportation  some  distance  and  those  who  must  be  taken 
at  once  to  the  nearest  hospital.  (3)  What  could  we  get  to  transport 
them  in?  (4)  How  many  could  each  of  the  various  hospitals  in  and 
about  Boston  take  in? 

To  take  up  the  first  question  :  We  knew  how  many  the  "  Bay  State" 
could  carry,  and  we  were  sure  that  she  would  have  her  full  comple 
ment,  that  meant  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  thirty  when 
we  had  to  meet  her.  In  the  case  of  the  "  Olivette,"  the  kt  Relief,"  and 
the  different  trains,  Dr.  Bradford  was  able  to  find  out  by  telegraphing, 
though  in  some  cases  the  number  we  were  to  expect  was  a  little 
indefinite. 

The  matter  of  the  men's  condition  was  a  harder  thing  to  find  out". 
We  knew  in  a  general  way  that  a  load  from  Santiago  meant  a  much 
larger  proportion  of  very  sick  ambulance  cases  than  a  load  from  Porto 
Rico  or  Montauk,  but  it  was  usually  impossible  to  tell  exactly  until  the 
ooat  got  to  quarantine  and  Dr.  Bradford  had  a  chance  to  telephone  us. 

Boston  is  well  supplied  with  means  of  transportation  of  sick  soldiers, 
and  the  ambulances  can  be  gotten  together  almost  as  rapidly  as  the  fire 
apparatus.  We  never  used  quite  all  the  ambulances  which  we  could 


184  Massachusetts   Volunteer  Aid  Association. 

have  had,  but  we  had  a  goodly  array  on  several  occasions.  The  police 
ambulances  have  a  single  large  stretcher  in  them,  but  that  can  be  taken 
out  and  by  laying  a  mattress  in  them  they  can  carry  two  men  each. 
In  the  case  of  the  "  Bay  State,"  we  did  not  move  some  of  the  sickest 
men  at  all,  but  they  were  sent  to  the  hospitals  on  the  frames  which 
were  the  beds  on  the  boat.  The  City  Hospital  ambulances  also  carry 
two,  and  have  two  very  convenient  short  canvas  stretchers  in  each  am 
bulance.  The  patient  is  put  into  the  ambulance  on  these  and  they 
remain  under  him.  This  saves  two  moves.  The  Massachusetts  Gen 
eral  Hospital  ambulances  carry  two  men,  by  using  a  mattress,  but  did 
not  have  the  canvas  stretchers.  The  Homoeopathic  ambulance  carries 
two  on  stretchers.  The  Marine  Hospital  and  Naval  Hospital  ambu 
lances  each  can  take  two  on  a  mattress,  but  did  not  have  the  canvas 
stretchers.  For  patients  able  to  sit  up,  we  used  the  large  diligences 
of  the  Armstrong  Transfer  Company  and  of  the  Boston  Cab  Company. 
The  former  carry  comfortably  about  a  dozen  and  the  latter  a  few  less. 
They  ride  rather  hard  unless  pretty  well  filled.  We  used  hacks  to  a 
limited  extent,  especially  for  the  men  who  needed  an  easier  running 
conveyance  than  the  larger  vehicle,  and  when  we  did  not  have  a  full 
load  for  one  of  the  larger  wagons.  There  was  room  for  one  man  in  the 
ambulances  on  the  seat  beside  the  driver.  The  Long  Island  Hospital 
cases  were  sent  down  on  the  "J.  Putnam  Bradlee." 

The  City,  Massachusetts  General,  and  Carney  hospitals  all  had  tents 
in  addition  to  the  wards,  and  to  these  three  hospitals  and  the  Homoeo 
pathic  Hospital  most  of  the  men  were  sent.  The  Long  Island  and 
Marine  hospitals  also  took  a  good  many  men.  St.  Margaret's  and 
the  Charity  Club  hospitals  offered  to  take  soldiers,  as  did  also  the 
Eye  and  Ear  Infirmary,  but  we  did  not  have  to  call  upon  them.  In 
addition  to  these  near  hospitals  many  others  in  the  surrounding  towns 
offered  to  take  men,  and  many  patients  were  sent  to  them  after  a  few 
days  in  Boston.  We  had  a  list  of  thirty-eight  hospitals  which  could 
and  would  take  soldiers,  and  there  were  several  other  institutions  where 
men  could  have  been  sent  in  an  emergency.  By  the  time  the  boats 
got  to  the  wharf  we  knew  just  where  we  could  place  any  number  of 
men  they  could  have  on  board,  and  usually  two  ox  three  times  as  many 
as  they  could  carry.  We  were  caught  unawares  once,  when  the 


Reception  of  the  Sick  Soldiers  in  Boston.  185 

"  Relief "  came  by  quarantine  without  stopping,  and  the  first  we  knew 
of  her  she  was  at  the  Plant  Line  dock.  After  that  we  were  notified  by 
the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  knew  as  soon  as  the  boats  entered  the 
harbor.  Dr.  Bradford  went  down  on  the  "  Vigilant "  every  time,  except 
in  the  case  of  the  "  Relief,"  and  boarded  the  vessel  at  quarantine.  In 
the  meantime  he  had  notified  whoever  was  in  charge  of  transportation^ 
and  that  man  had  gotten  his  assistants  together,  either  at  the  Volunteer 
Aid  Association  or  at  the  wharf  where  the  vessel  was  to  dock.  Each 
man  had  a  list  of  people  to  be  notified,  such  as  the  police,  the  ambulance 
corps,  the  hospitals,  the  cab  company,  the  wharf,  etc.,  and  as  soon  as 
the  boat  was  reported  all  of  these  people  were  warned  to  hold  them 
selves  in  readiness.  We  telephoned  to  them  again  when  we  knew  the 
hour  the  boat  was  expected  at  the  wharf.  The  crowd  of  friends  at  the 
wharf  was  a  more  difficult  problem,  but  with  an  efficient  sergeant  of 
police  and  a  rope  to  keep  the  crowd  back  it  was  much  simplified.  No 
one  but  reporters,  assistants,  and  friends  of  sick  soldiers  should  be 
allowed  on  the  wharf  at  all,  but  this  is  a  hard  order  to  carry  out.  In 
the  yard  the  ambulances  and  wagons  were  backed  into  position  to  take 
patients  at  once,  and  so  that  you  could  send  a  wagon  out  from  any  part 
of  the  line  without  disturbing  the  rest.  No  private  carriages  should  be 
allowed  in  the  yard.  The  ambulances  were  drawn  up  nearest  the  gang 
plank,  so  as  to  make  a  short  carry  for  the  ambulance-corps  men. 
There  should  be  two  mattresses  on  the  wharf,  so  that  in  making  the 
transfer  from  the  ambulance-corps  stretcher  to  the  ambulance  stretcher 
the  patient  need  not  be  laid  down  on  the  board  floor. 


'OURTEEN  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 


This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 
on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 


17J^56VIL            | 



—  =  ^HHT  7=  

LD  21-100m-2,'55 
(B139s22)476 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


\Vork  of   the  Kass.    volnteer .MS 


